1 Amory Blaine  Apr 1, 2014 1:14:35pm

Front row seat. Hope Chuck Todd is on vaykay.

2 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 1:16:38pm

Cue the complaints that it’s unseemly and unpresidential to take a victory lap.

3 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 1, 2014 1:16:54pm

Ze Germanss vill not let me votch it livfe…

4 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 1:18:10pm

“Seven Million, Forty One thousand, bitches! Oh, and Barasso? Kiss my ass.”

5 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 1:19:26pm

We get both of them today.

6 wrenchwench  Apr 1, 2014 1:19:38pm

Oooh, Biden too. Must be a big fucking deal.

7 calochortus  Apr 1, 2014 1:21:16pm

Totally off topic, but for the last few days I’ve been getting tons of pop-up ads here. Click on a page, get a pop-up, return to the front page-new pop up, reopen LGF after having been on earlier-more pop-ups.

What gives?

8 Bulworth  Apr 1, 2014 1:21:56pm

re: #2 GeneJockey

Obama is spiking the football which GOP never does and all those signups are ACORN fraud, fake people signed up nobody paid FAILURE!!

9 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 1:22:12pm

re: #7 calochortus

Totally off topic, but for the last few days I’ve been getting tons of pop-up ads here. Click on a page, get a pop-up, return to the front page-new pop up, reopen LGF after having been on earlier-more pop-ups.

What gives?

every time a pop up ad pops up, an account executive gets his wings

10 aagcobb  Apr 1, 2014 1:23:53pm

re: #7 calochortus

Totally off topic, but for the last few days I’ve been getting tons of pop-up ads here. Click on a page, get a pop-up, return to the front page-new pop up, reopen LGF after having been on earlier-more pop-ups.

What gives?

Like me, you are cheap and won’t pay Charles so you don’t get the pop-ups.

11 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 1:24:23pm

re: #9 dog philosopher

every time a pop up ad pops up, an account executive gets his wings

“That’s right! Way to go, Pete!” (In my best Jimmy Stewart voice)

12 calochortus  Apr 1, 2014 1:25:25pm

re: #10 aagcobb

Like me, you are cheap and won’t pay Charles so you don’t get the pop-ups.

That is true, but until about a week ago, the pop-ups were manageable in number. I didn’t get a new one every time I clicked on a page.

13 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 1:27:47pm

re: #12 calochortus

That is true, but until about a week ago, the pop-ups were manageable in number. I didn’t get a new one every time I clicked on a page.

Yeah, between that and the outages, I’d ask for my money back, if I’d paid him any!
//

14 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 1:28:04pm

Me: The rollout was rough, but forgivable particularly with the way the GOP sought to kneecap this every step of the way. The glitches yesterday were much less so, particularly since they managed to get things running much more smoothly in the last month or so. Allowing applications in the queue to be counted as having met the deadline helps those who procrastinated until the last minute.

They’ll have to work those out, but for the more than 6 million (far more once you factor in those who got expanded Medicare) who now have health insurance, this is a huge boon.

It will help in the long run since those who are in the marketplace will have some idea of how it works come next year’s enrollment, which will start November 15.

And the bugs will be worked out along the way as people who enter the marketplace due to life status changes (marriage/divorce, birth, death, etc.)

The private insurers will still have to be held accountable for their actions, including gaming the in-network provisions to limit their exposure (but that’s something they do in the employer-insurance markets too).

None of the success will mean anything to the GOP, which sees this as another government program to destroy, even though it’s essentially a private marketplace that the feds set up that didn’t exist before, and which subsidies are going to pay insurance companies to make up the difference and to reduce the cost to those taxpayers who qualify.

Who benefits from this? Taxpayers (insureds), who didn’t have insurance previously. But mostly it’s the insurers who get full payment for their premiums and hospitals who don’t have to deal with as many uninsureds and have to suck up their indigent care setasides (or run in the red).

15 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 1:28:14pm

Just discovered a cool trick to record these YouTube streaming live videos - the VLC open source media player. Just “Open Network…” and paste in the URL of the YouTube video. Didn’t know you could do this with VLC. I’m recording this statement to see how well it works.

16 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 1:29:03pm

re: #7 calochortus

Totally off topic, but for the last few days I’ve been getting tons of pop-up ads here. Click on a page, get a pop-up, return to the front page-new pop up, reopen LGF after having been on earlier-more pop-ups.

What gives?

I’ve been noticing this too - something must have changed, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t touch that code recently. Will look into it.

17 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 1, 2014 1:29:45pm

re: #16 Charles Johnson

I’ve been noticing this too - something must have changed, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t touch that code recently. Will look into it.

Product placement hackers?

18 calochortus  Apr 1, 2014 1:29:56pm

re: #16 Charles Johnson

Thanks.

19 makeitstop  Apr 1, 2014 1:30:58pm

He’s going in.

Take that victory lap, Mr. President. Then light a victory cigar and blow the smoke in Boehner’s face.

20 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 1:31:24pm

re: #16 Charles Johnson

I’ve been noticing this too - something must have changed, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t touch that code recently. Will look into it.

Now that’s service, especially since it’s something that only impacts us nonsubscribers!

21 klys  Apr 1, 2014 1:31:43pm

Why, when we are listening to the litany of all the outrageous outrages, is the outrage on the right over the ACA never brought up as an example?

Good on Obama for calling it out.

22 aagcobb  Apr 1, 2014 1:32:08pm

re: #14 lawhawk

Who benefits from this? Taxpayers (insureds), who didn’t have insurance previously. But mostly it’s the insurers who get full payment for their premiums and hospitals who don’t have to deal with as many uninsureds and have to suck up their indigent care setasides (or run in the red).

Community Health Centers are big winners financially:

The number of visits by Medicaid recipients last month was 30 percent higher than in February 2013. Visits by uninsured patients fell by 52 percent, to 1,760 from 3,697. Visits by patients with private insurance dropped slightly, but Mr. Wagner hopes they will rise as more people like Ms. Morse discover Family Health Centers and like what they find.
For now, the new revenue from Medicaid — which reimburses community health centers at a higher rate than private doctors — should help Family Health Centers erase a $2 million deficit in its $28 million budget, Mr. Wagner said.
With the new revenue, he also hopes to raise salaries and recruit new doctors to replace several who left over the last year. Mr. Wagner is in negotiations with five candidates; if he succeeds in hiring them, it could help ease the pressure on nurse practitioners, who now make up 60 percent of the clinic’s medical staff, but who rely on doctors for advice and support.

New York Times

23 Amory Blaine  Apr 1, 2014 1:35:13pm

Wingnuts are preparing to deploy the throat rammers.

24 Stanley Sea  Apr 1, 2014 1:36:06pm

Oh yes!!!!

25 Stanley Sea  Apr 1, 2014 1:36:28pm

……….. Not live. Heh I’m on vacay. Have an excuse.

26 calochortus  Apr 1, 2014 1:36:39pm

But, but if it isn’t perfect right from the get-go, we need to destroy it totally!
No healthcare at all is better than slightly imperfect healthcare!!!

////

27 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 1:36:53pm

Was talking to a friend of mine who is a contractor for the post office. She claims they don’t offer health coverage. She went online and bought some ins through .gov and got the cheapest policy (subsidized) which has a $5K deductible and for which she pays zilch. She makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid, evidently.

I asked her why she doesn’t inquire about group coverage through the PO and suggested she might have signed off on getting any when she was first hired. She actually works for the PO, not for some company that contracts their own hires out to the PO, but they’re considered “independent” contractors—it seems like a weird arrangement. I can see that she might have rejected coverage when she first started as she is considered PT and doesn’t make a lot of money, but it doesn’t make sense that she would have to get such a crappy policy on her own.

I told her to check w/her supervisor to see if she could get group coverage which would probably be better with less of a deductible, and perhaps would be affordable for her.

Where’s our expert on ACA, Decatur Deb?

28 calochortus  Apr 1, 2014 1:38:07pm

Short and sweet.

29 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 1:40:08pm

Just filed the 990-N for the History Archive.

30 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 1:40:41pm

Mmf. VLC only captured about a minute of it and then stopped recording. I need to check the settings.

31 calochortus  Apr 1, 2014 1:41:34pm

And from our friends at FR:

That little piece of sh*t just preempted Judge Judy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 posted on Tue Apr 1 13:35:54 2014 by FrdmLvr (“WE ARE ALL OSAMA, 0BAMA!” al-Qaeda terrorists who breached the American compound in Benghazi)

I can only hope that is sarcasm, but I fear not.

32 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 1:43:31pm

re: #27 Justanotherhuman

Was talking to a friend of mine who is a contractor for the post office. She claims they don’t offer health coverage. She went online and bought some ins through .gov and got the cheapest policy (subsidized) which has a $5K deductible and for which she pays zilch. She makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid, evidently.

I asked her why she doesn’t inquire about group coverage through the PO and suggested she might have signed off on getting any when she was first hired. She actually works for the PO, not for some company that contracts their own hires out to the PO, but they’re considered “independent” contractors—it seems like a weird arrangement. I can see that she might have rejected coverage when she first started as she is considered PT and doesn’t make a lot of money, but it doesn’t make sense that she would have to get such a crappy policy on her own.

I told her to check w/her supervisor to see if she could get group coverage which would probably be better with less of a deduction, and perhaps would be affordable for her.

Where’s our expert on ACA, Decatur Deb?

In my industry we hire a LOT of temps, who are nominally employees of the agency we get them from. Some agencies offer health benefits, some don’t. I believe this will change when the employer mandate kicks in.

This may have the side effect of reducing what I see as the abuse of the idea of ‘temporary employees’ in the industry, where it’s essentially openended till the temp makes it clear he/she’s entertaining other offers. If the temp agencies have to raise their rates because they need to provide health insurance, then cost of a temp versus a permanent employee become more equal, so why not either hire as a permanent to start, or at least convert after a lot shorter period.

33 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 1:45:31pm

A beautiful day in DC as it is here. Holy crap, it’s 81 deg!

34 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 1:48:24pm

US Navy credited with recovery of island night lizards

In what is being hailed as an environmental victory for the U.S. Navy, the island night lizard has been taken off the list of federally endangered species.

An estimated 21.3 million night lizards occupy 21-mile-long San Clemente Island off the coast of Southern California, one of the highest densities of any lizard on earth, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this week.

35 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 1:49:11pm
36 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 1:50:20pm

re: #35 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

Is it bad that I want to respond to that with something like, “Get bent!”?
//// 0.5

37 wrenchwench  Apr 1, 2014 1:50:34pm

re: #34 jaunte

US Navy credited with recovery of island night lizards

one of the highest densities of any lizard on earth…

We have a lizard or two with pretty high densities.

38 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 1:52:21pm
39 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 1:52:30pm

That never stopped us before!!!

40 wrenchwench  Apr 1, 2014 1:53:49pm

What do I have to do to share a .mov file? Do I have to find a host to link to?

41 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 1:54:11pm

Death spiral! DEATH SPIRAL!!!!

42 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 1:58:51pm

re: #32 GeneJockey

In my industry we hire a LOT of temps, who are nominally employees of the agency we get them from. Some agencies offer health benefits, some don’t. I believe this will change when the employer mandate kicks in.

This may have the side effect of reducing what I see as the abuse of the idea of ‘temporary employees’ in the industry, where it’s essentially openended till the temp makes it clear he/she’s entertaining other offers. If the temp agencies have to raise their rates because they need to provide health insurance, then cost of a temp versus a permanent employee become more equal, so why not either hire as a permanent to start, or at least convert after a lot shorter period.

Back in the 60s, 70s and 80s, I would get temp jobs in between permanent gigs, sometimes for very short periods (got a few perms that way), but even then, if you worked for the temp agency (like Kelly) for a certain length of time, you were eligible for group health. You were actually their employee, no matter how long you worked at the place you were assigned.

I don’t know how they work it these days. Contractors seem to be in a real limbo.

43 Amory Blaine  Apr 1, 2014 1:58:57pm

re: #40 wrenchwench

I think you need a time machine for that. :p

44 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 1:59:35pm

re: #40 wrenchwench

What do I have to do to share a .mov file? Do I have to find a host to link to?

Probably the easiest way is to upload it to YouTube.

45 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 2:01:52pm

What? Breitbart “News” is freaking out over Obama’s speech? No way.

46 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Apr 1, 2014 2:02:02pm

re: #40 wrenchwench

If you have a google account you also have several GB of storage space from which you can share things.

drive.google.com

47 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 2:04:20pm

re: #46 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

If you have a google account you also have several GB of storage space from which you can share things.

drive.google.com

Right - but if you put it on YouTube it’s automatically converted so anyone can view it without Quicktime.

48 bratwurst  Apr 1, 2014 2:06:05pm

re: #45 Charles Johnson

What? Breitbart “News” is freaking out over Obama’s speech? No way.

[Embedded content]

I guess they were expecting him to refer to the wasted time of the dozens of completely hopeless efforts to repeal the ACA in a totally non-partisan way!

49 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 2:06:27pm

But of course they’d say this. They’re jealous, that’s why.

Spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, says Obamacare ‘continues to harm the American people’ - @markknoller
end of alert

Rave on, Catshit. You’ve been defeated soundly.

50 Decatur Deb  Apr 1, 2014 2:10:31pm

re: #27 Justanotherhuman

Was talking to a friend of mine who is a contractor for the post office. She claims they don’t offer health coverage. She went online and bought some ins through .gov and got the cheapest policy (subsidized) which has a $5K deductible and for which she pays zilch. She makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid, evidently.

I asked her why she doesn’t inquire about group coverage through the PO and suggested she might have signed off on getting any when she was first hired. She actually works for the PO, not for some company that contracts their own hires out to the PO, but they’re considered “independent” contractors—it seems like a weird arrangement. I can see that she might have rejected coverage when she first started as she is considered PT and doesn’t make a lot of money, but it doesn’t make sense that she would have to get such a crappy policy on her own.

I told her to check w/her supervisor to see if she could get group coverage which would probably be better with less of a deductible, and perhaps would be affordable for her.

Where’s our expert on ACA, Decatur Deb?

You rang?
Sounds wrong, unless the postal service has changed a lot since I was a fed. The postal workers had a (privatized) program that other feds could chose as one of their menu options. It was roughly equivalent to the package I chose, and a bit less expensive across its levels.

This could have changed under the pressures of the last decade, or her details could hold a devil.

51 Iwouldprefernotto  Apr 1, 2014 2:13:04pm

re: #50 Decatur Deb

You rang? Sounds wrong, unless the postal service has changed a lot since I was a fed. The postal workers had a (privatized) program that other feds could chose as one of their menu options. It was roughly equivalent to the package I chose, and a bit less expensive across its levels.

This could have changed under the pressures of the last decade, or her details could hold a devil.

upding for best phrase o’ the day.

52 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 2:13:54pm

re: #45 Charles Johnson

From Breitbart:

“Why are folks working so hard for people not to have health insurance?” Obama asked. “Why are they so mad about the idea of folks having health insurance?”
……………
“The debate over repealing this law is over. The Affordable Care Act is here to stay,” Obama said, adding that benefits like the ones described in the letter would be all but impossible to revoke.

“Those who have based their entire political agenda on repealing it” will have to explain ending the benefits, Obama said.

These points don’t seem controversial.

53 klys  Apr 1, 2014 2:15:11pm

re: #52 jaunte

From Breitbart:

These points don’t seem controversial.

They’re outrageous!!

//

54 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 2:15:46pm

re: #45 Charles Johnson

What? Breitbart “News” is freaking out over Obama’s speech? No way.

[Embedded content]

I’m pretty sure that’s an ad-lib title by now, a macro they punch up any time the President gives a speech.

55 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 2:15:54pm
56 makeitstop  Apr 1, 2014 2:18:00pm

re: #48 bratwurst

I guess they were expecting him to refer to the wasted time of the dozens of completely hopeless efforts to repeal the ACA in a totally non-partisan way!

Obama trolled the living crap out of every RWNJ, and threw in every R in Congress and the media for good measure.

And I’m fine with that.

57 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 2:18:39pm

If this is an April Fools day joke, I will straight out shank a bitch.

Gargoyles: The Movie is Coming in 2017

58 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 2:18:53pm

re: #50 Decatur Deb

You rang? Sounds wrong, unless the postal service has changed a lot since I was a fed. The postal workers had a (privatized) program that other feds could chose as one of their menu options. It was roughly equivalent to the package I chose, and a bit less expensive across its levels.

This could have changed under the pressures of the last decade, or her details could hold a devil.

To be fair, she’s a very sweet person but not the brightest bulb in the box; I’ve known her for 6 or 7 yrs, and talk on the phone and even see her maybe once a week, but have never felt really close (she’s going on 50, so there’s an age gap). I still don’t quite understand the employment arrangement since she got the job through the PO, tested for it, works for the PO, but is still considered a “contractor”. She uses her own vehicle to deliver mail and even found one of those right hand Jeeps and can use a PO truck if her vehicle is in the shop. Gets paid mileage using her own vehicle in addition to hourly pay, which she says is $9/hr, but sometimes only works 2 days a wk, sometimes 3 or 4. Considered a “substitute carrier”.

Go figure.

59 Decatur Deb  Apr 1, 2014 2:19:31pm

re: #55 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Cavuto envoked the Magical Vilification Imp.

60 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 2:19:44pm

re: #55 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Ah yes, time for another round of “The President’s Being MEAN!!!” stories from the “liberal” press, where we get told how unseemly it is for the White House to “gloat.”

61 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 2:20:44pm

re: #55 Kragar

Lying Liars on Fox Lie network lie about lies previously told by lying GOP liars.

62 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 2:20:52pm

re: #57 Kragar

If this is an April Fools day joke, I will straight out shank a bitch.

Gargoyles: The Movie is Coming in 2017

I’ll second that sentiment.

63 klys  Apr 1, 2014 2:22:01pm

re: #57 Kragar

If this is an April Fools day joke, I will straight out shank a bitch.

Gargoyles: The Movie is Coming in 2017

Having read the article, well…

I can appreciate your sentiment though. I sent the link to a friend (with a reminder of the date).

64 Decatur Deb  Apr 1, 2014 2:23:41pm

re: #60 Targetpractice

Ah yes, time for another round of “The President’s Being MEAN!!!” stories from the “liberal” press, where we get told how unseemly it is for the White House to “gloat.”

Imma not gonna gloat or nothin’, but I’d like to scratch that number into Rep Boehner’s limo.

65 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 2:23:46pm

re: #57 Kragar

If this is an April Fools day joke, I will straight out shank a bitch.

Gargoyles: The Movie is Coming in 2017

A little over the top, n’est-ce pas?

Take a deep breath and repeat: It’s only a cartoon, It’s only a cartoon, It’s only a cartoon…

67 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 2:24:02pm

re: #55 Kragar

Michael Gerson: “Obamacare is a multiyear, multifaceted fiasco. It is a case study in how to alienate a country you intend to help. And it could become an intellectual crisis for modern liberalism.
washingtonpost.com

68 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 2:25:45pm

Oh, ferchrissakes…

Director Peter Jackson’s jet joins search for missing MH370 in Indian Ocean - @nzherald
read more on straitstimes.com

Please don’t make a movie about this.

69 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 2:26:14pm

H20=Necessary for life, but too much can kill you.

70 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 2:26:20pm

re: #65 Justanotherhuman

A little over the top, n’est-ce pas?

Take a deep breath and repeat: It’s only a cartoon, It’s only a cartoon, It’s only a cartoon…

Well, I’m related to the writer, so I wouldn’t mess him up too badly.

71 klys  Apr 1, 2014 2:26:43pm

re: #70 Kragar

Well, I’m related to the writer, so I wouldn’t mess him up too badly.

An excellent plot twist!

72 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 2:26:46pm

re: #67 jaunte

Six months ago: “The law’s a total failure! The website’s a joke! WE WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG!!!”

Now: “WE QUESTION THE NUMBERS!!!!”

73 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 2:29:11pm

re: #72 Targetpractice

“Cooking the books!!!”

74 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 2:29:41pm

And right on cue…

75 Decatur Deb  Apr 1, 2014 2:31:06pm

For a little grappa in the coffee, repeating from a crack-of-dawn post: The number will go up significantly during the coming months, driven by various state and federal extensions for those locked out by the system. There will also be a large number of Americans who will have qualifying life events like job changes, marriage, children, etc. Could be 8 million by October.

76 wrenchwench  Apr 1, 2014 2:32:01pm

The .mov file is of the niece, so I’d have to get permission from her parents I suppose, before I’d upload to YouTube. Maybe put it up & take it down.

77 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 1, 2014 2:32:52pm

re: #57 Kragar

If this is an April Fools day joke, I will straight out shank a bitch.

Gargoyles: The Movie is Coming in 2017

Alas, I’d bet it’s a joke… :(

78 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 2:32:58pm
79 Lidane  Apr 1, 2014 2:33:02pm

OT but this is just wrong:

80 Lidane  Apr 1, 2014 2:34:31pm

re: #74 Targetpractice

Shouldn’t he be unskewing his bracket so he can tell Warren Buffett to cough up that billion? Seems like a more productive use of his time.

81 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 2:35:07pm

re: #77 William Barnett-Lewis

Alas, I’d bet it’s a joke… :(

I see the writer next week. I’ll have his nieces distract him while I pounce.

82 klys  Apr 1, 2014 2:36:17pm

re: #81 Kragar

I see the writer next week. I’ll have his nieces distract him while I pounce.

Family always knows the best way to mess with you.

83 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 2:37:49pm

re: #78 Kragar

That kid is going be be really confused in future when she gets in trouble for making up stories.

84 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 2:39:32pm

re: #78 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Oh, ferchrissakes…

Lying bastards will do anything to sell books and boost their egos.

And use a 5 yr old to do it. Just part of the game plan, doncha know.

85 Decatur Deb  Apr 1, 2014 2:40:00pm

re: #82 klys

Family always knows the best way to mess with you.


Here’s How Jill Biden Scared The S**t Out Of Joe Biden For April Fool’s Day

huffingtonpost.com

86 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 2:40:25pm

re: #83 jaunte

That kid is going be be really confused in future when she gets in trouble for making up stories.

She’s already being taught that life is nothing but stories.

87 Dr Lizardo  Apr 1, 2014 2:40:42pm

re: #77 William Barnett-Lewis

Alas, I’d bet it’s a joke… :(

You know what I’d like to see?

Ralph Bakshi’s original “Cool World”, intended as a hard-R animated horror film. It was totally rewritten from his original screenplay by the producer.

Oh, and David Fincher’s “Rendezvous with Rama”. That would be epic, but as noted by Cracked magazine:

Why it didn’t get made: Money. If you want to make a Rama film you’ll need nine digits just to get a seat at the table (remember, Fincher is the guy who needed a $90 million budget to make a movie about two guys fighting in their basement).

Merchandising on Rama wouldn’t exactly be a gold mine, either. Little Timmy isn’t going to spend hours with his 100 foot-long plastic Rama mothership, contemplating how it symbolizes man’s eternal struggle against the cosmic unknown.

88 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 2:42:25pm

(Speechwriter/senior communications advisor to Senator Ted Cruz.)

89 TedStriker  Apr 1, 2014 2:42:45pm

re: #55 Kragar

Good question, Fox News.

The proper answer to that question is, of course, when Republicans stop opposing “Obamacare” and stop trying to completely neuter it or abolish it altogether.

But, you already knew that, right?

90 RadicalModerate  Apr 1, 2014 2:42:57pm

re: #57 Kragar

If this is an April Fools day joke, I will straight out shank a bitch.

Gargoyles: The Movie is Coming in 2017

Check where the link in the story with Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige goes to.

91 TedStriker  Apr 1, 2014 2:45:09pm

re: #64 Decatur Deb

Imma not gonna gloat or nothin’, but I’d like to scratch that number into Rep Boehner’s limo.

I’d settle for it being tattooed on his forehead.

Backwards, so he gets to see it every time he’s in front of a mirror.

92 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 2:45:11pm

re: #74 Targetpractice

And right on cue…

[Embedded content]

If that asshole had any integrity, he’d have slunk back to his well-deserved obscurity. It’s very telling that, after so badly misleading the more gullible folks on the Right, and himself, that anyone would give a flying crap what he thinks about anything.

Then again, Larry Kudlow et al’s opinions on the economy are still valued after they a) mocked ‘Where’s My Recession?” a couple months before the economy fell off the cliff and b) have predicted Weimar-style hyperinflation ‘Any day now!’ for the last 6 years.

93 Flying Squirrel Girl  Apr 1, 2014 2:46:29pm

re: #60 Targetpractice

Did I miss something? Did he strut around the flight deck of an aircraft carrier with an air force uniform on under a banner declaring, “Mission Accomplished?”

94 wrenchwench  Apr 1, 2014 2:46:37pm

OK, look quick before I yank it! It’s short and sweet. Insulin will be dispensed afterward.

Youtube Video

95 makeitstop  Apr 1, 2014 2:49:17pm

re: #94 wrenchwench

OK, look quick before I yank it! It’s short and sweet. Insulin will be dispensed afterward.

[Embedded content]

Way too cute. Get that kid an agent, pronto.

96 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 2:49:52pm

re: #90 RadicalModerate

Check where the link in the story with Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige goes to.

Well, that does it. I have no siblings.

97 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 3:02:44pm

Yes, Joey, capitalism does have a “fuck the rest of you, I’ve got mine” feature which the richest discover very early. It’s inherent in the system and they want to keep it that way.

The Top of the World
An ambitious study documents the long-term reign of the 1 percent

bookforum.com

“The core message of this enormous and enormously important book can be delivered in a few lines: Left to its own devices, wealth inevitably tends to concentrate in capitalist economies. There is no “natural” mechanism inherent in the structure of such economies for inhibiting, much less reversing, that tendency. Only crises like war and depression, or political interventions like taxation (which, to the upper classes, would be a crisis), can do the trick. And Thomas Piketty has two centuries of data to prove his point.” (my emphasis)

(snip)

“But something has changed within that 1 percent: While it was once dominated by a population of rentiers, coupon clippers who barely worked if at all, it is now dominated, especially in the United States, by a group of star CEOs and financiers who flatter themselves that they’re being paid for their extraordinary talents.”
More

98 AntonSirius  Apr 1, 2014 3:04:03pm

re: #81 Kragar

I see the writer next week. I’ll have his nieces distract him while I pounce.

He should have gone with Teddy Ruxpin. Now THERE’S a cartoon universe crying out for a live action movie.

99 Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 1, 2014 3:09:03pm

Unfortunately the new Ninja Turtles movie is no joke and judging by the trailer I believe a piece of my childhood has been ruined. Michael Bay strikes again

100 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 3:11:01pm

re: #99 Eclectic Cyborg

Unfortunately the new Ninja Turtles movie is no joke and judging by the trailer I believe a piece of my childhood has been ruined. Michael Bay strikes again

I’m old enough that TMNT was merely a passing “WTF?”, and my children are young enough that TMNT were passe before they reached the age. Their exposure to them was entirely through The Nostalgia Critic.

101 wrenchwench  Apr 1, 2014 3:13:36pm

Yikes.

I must confess to laughing a little bit when they said the property damages were estimated at $10 million dollars for a whole town and a highway being wiped out.

Click the link in the tweet to see a very big version of the photo.

102 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 3:14:13pm

re: #97 Justanotherhuman

Yes, Joey, capitalism does have a “fuck the rest of you, I’ve got mine” feature which the richest discover very early. It’s inherent in the system and they want to keep it that way.

The Top of the World
An ambitious study documents the long-term reign of the 1 percent

bookforum.com

“The core message of this enormous and enormously important book can be delivered in a few lines: Left to its own devices, wealth inevitably tends to concentrate in capitalist economies. There is no “natural” mechanism inherent in the structure of such economies for inhibiting, much less reversing, that tendency. Only crises like war and depression, or political interventions like taxation (which, to the upper classes, would be a crisis), can do the trick. And Thomas Piketty has two centuries of data to prove his point.” (my emphasis)

(snip)

“But something has changed within that 1 percent: While it was once dominated by a population of rentiers, coupon clippers who barely worked if at all, it is now dominated, especially in the United States, by a group of star CEOs and financiers who flatter themselves that they’re being paid for their extraordinary talents.”
More

That’s exactly what I’ve been saying for a long time. Capitalism rewards having money. It sometimes rewards hard work, innovation, and risk-taking, but primarily it rewards having money.

And since the reward for having money is even more money, wealth is inevitably redistributed upwards, unless acted on by another force.

103 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 3:14:34pm

re: #98 AntonSirius

Now THERE’S a cartoon universe crying out for a live action movie.

so you’re not talking about fox news here?

104 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 3:15:17pm

Check out Menino’s neat walking stick. : )

105 A Mom Anon  Apr 1, 2014 3:16:07pm

re: #94 wrenchwench

OMG those cheeks!!! She gets freaking cuter every time.

106 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 3:16:16pm

re: #97 Justanotherhuman

Thanks much for the link. More evidence for the simple proposition that extreme wealth concentration is the natural state for capitalism. Public policies, especially progressive taxation, are the only real antidote that has ever been demonstrated.

107 Dr Lizardo  Apr 1, 2014 3:24:25pm

Oh, and one film I definitely would love to see made: Childhood’s End from the novel by Arthur C. Clarke.

However, seeing as how

humanity is essentially made extinct by the end of the novel and the Earth itself is destroyed with no survivors

I have the horrible feeling some exec somewhere would say, “Can’t we have a more upbeat ending?” to which the proper - and only - answer is a firm and resolute “No.”

Oh, and the Overlords have to look like this. Exactly like this:

108 goddamnedfrank  Apr 1, 2014 3:24:28pm

re: #101 wrenchwench

[Embedded content]

Yikes.

I must confess to laughing a little bit when they said the property damages were estimated at $10 million dollars for a whole town and a highway being wiped out.

Click the link in the tweet to see a very big version of the photo.

What’s scary is comparing the before pictures of the slide area with a place like La Conchita in California. Those people in Oso probably thought they were totally safe, since the hill slope was so gradual and far away, a half mile or so distant on the other side of a river. La Conchita, in comparison just looks like a disaster waiting to happen.

109 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 3:27:35pm

re: #107 Dr Lizardo

Oh, and the Overlords have to look like this. >Exactly like this:

i always wanted a pair of steel underpants

110 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 3:29:27pm

re: #102 GeneJockey

That’s exactly what I’ve been saying for a long time. Capitalism rewards having money. It sometimes rewards hard work, innovation, and risk-taking, but primarily it rewards having money.

And since the reward for having money is even more money, wealth is inevitably redistributed upwards, unless acted on by another force.

Another difference between the “inheritor” class, families like the Dukes, Huttons, Rockefellers, etc of old and those today is that the current rich comprising the CEOs are given huge blocks of stock in addition to bloated salaries and perks, making them owners as well.

111 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 3:30:15pm

re: #75 Decatur Deb

For a little grappa in the coffee, repeating from a crack-of-dawn post: The number will go up significantly during the coming months, driven by various state and federal extensions for those locked out by the system. There will also be a large number of Americans who will have qualifying life events like job changes, marriage, children, etc. Could be 8 million by October.

I recall seeing an estimate that enrollment by this time next year (to include the next enrollment window) will exceed 15 million.

112 wrenchwench  Apr 1, 2014 3:32:18pm

re: #108 goddamnedfrank

What’s scary is comparing the before pictures of the slide area with a place like La Conchita in California. Those people in Oso probably thought they were totally safe, since the hill slope was so gradual and far away, a half mile or so distant on the other side of a river. La Conchita, in comparison just looks like a disaster waiting to happen.

Also looks like it might be worth more than $10 million.

113 Dr Lizardo  Apr 1, 2014 3:32:25pm

re: #109 dog philosopher

i always wanted a pair of steel underpants

Actually, from the description of the Overlords in the book, that’s their natural exoskeleton. They stand about 9 feet tall or so.

Today with convincing CGI - and perhaps a mix of some full-scale animatronics, Childhood’s End could easily be made into a feature film.

It’s just that the ending would likely be considered “depressing” by the average film-goer.

114 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 3:34:56pm

re: #102 GeneJockey

That’s exactly what I’ve been saying for a long time. Capitalism rewards having money. It sometimes rewards hard work, innovation, and risk-taking, but primarily it rewards having money.

And since the reward for having money is even more money, wealth is inevitably redistributed upwards, unless acted on by another force.

This was, during the 19th century, the reason for the estate tax.

Consider that anything less than a million is untaxed. Then consider how much screaming there is about 50% on everything above that amount. “Oh, dear, the dependents will be out on the street if kept to a mere million.”

/spit

115 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 3:35:00pm
116 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 1, 2014 3:36:47pm

re: #113 Dr Lizardo

Actually, from the description of the Overlords in the book, that’s their natural exoskeleton. They stand about 9 feet tall or so.

Today with convincing CGI - and perhaps a mix of some full-scale animatronics, Childhood’s End could easily be made into a feature film.

It’s just that the ending would likely be considered “depressing” by the average film-goer.

A lot of his work could be. Can you imagine a movie of “The Star” for Christmas release? :whistle:

117 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 3:37:21pm

Maybe I can find a doctor around here now.

Obama signs bill into law stopping payment cuts to Medicare doctors - @ZekeJMiller
end of alert

118 Dr Lizardo  Apr 1, 2014 3:39:52pm

re: #116 William Barnett-Lewis

A lot of his work could be. Can you imagine a movie of “The Star” for Christmas release? :whistle:

One of the TV revivals of “The Twilight Zone” did The Star for one of their segments, and I must say, it was very well done.

en.wikipedia.org

119 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 3:41:02pm

re: #74 Targetpractice

And right on cue…

[Embedded content]

Dean Chambers. Really. Mr. ‘Romney’s not behind if you unskew the polls’ himself.

Yaknow, Barnum was right. There is a sucker born every minute. And apparently a lot of them vote Republican.

120 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 3:41:19pm

re: #114 kirkspencer

This was, during the 19th century, the reason for the estate tax.

Consider that anything less than a million is untaxed. Then consider how much screaming there is about 50% on everything above that amount. “Oh, dear, the dependents will be out on the street if kept to a mere million.”

/spit

Actually it’s now anything less than 5.35 Million.

But what I find amazing is the number of people on the right who think the rich are taxed too much, and that both capital gains and estates should not be taxed AT ALL!!!!

And somehow, they claim, this will lead to wealth for all.

Imagine an America in which there is NO tax on capital gains, NO tax on dividends, NO tax on estates. Absolutely nothing to stop the concentration of wealth, and indeed, much, much higher tax rates for the nonwealthy.

121 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 1, 2014 3:42:45pm

re: #118 Dr Lizardo

One of the TV revivals of “The Twilight Zone” did The Star for one of their segments, and I must say, it was very well done.

en.wikipedia.org

Missed that somehow. Would work well for that show, but then the twist would be fitting.

122 klys  Apr 1, 2014 3:43:11pm

re: #114 kirkspencer

This was, during the 19th century, the reason for the estate tax.

Consider that anything less than a million is untaxed. Then consider how much screaming there is about 50% on everything above that amount. “Oh, dear, the dependents will be out on the street if kept to a mere million.”

/spit

I think the exemption federally is currently more like 5 million.

123 Dr Lizardo  Apr 1, 2014 3:44:31pm

re: #121 William Barnett-Lewis

Missed that somehow. Would work well for that show, but then the twist would be fitting.

Here it is:

Youtube Video

124 thedopefishlives  Apr 1, 2014 3:46:27pm

Evening Lizardim.

125 goddamnedfrank  Apr 1, 2014 3:50:37pm

re: #122 klys

I think the exemption federally is currently more like 5 million.

$5,340,000, and widow / widowers get to carry over the unused portions of their spouses exemption. So if one spouse dies leaving everything to the other, the surviving spouse’s estate can then bequeath $10,680,000 tax free.

126 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 3:50:40pm

Eating seven or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day, and not the previously recommended five, could prolong your life, research has suggested.

but how to deal with the depression from being a slave to a rutabaga

127 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 3:51:09pm

“… obviously this kind of thing isn’t going to work. But it does illustrate how reactionary and unthinking some conservatives have allowed their Obamacare opposition to become — that they’d push their older, sicker fellow travelers toward a (for them) unsubsidized health system with the intention of destroying it, thus leaving those people with … nothing! This is a bit like holding bank customers hostage by strapping dynamite to yourself.”

The right’s day-after freakout: Conservatives fail to grapple with new Obamacare reality

128 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 3:52:40pm

re: #120 GeneJockey

re: #122 klys

You’re both right - over $5 million.

You don’t need titles to be an American Aristocrat.

129 klys  Apr 1, 2014 3:54:33pm

re: #128 kirkspencer

You’re both right - over $5 million.

You don’t need titles to be an American Aristocrat.

It is rather hard to justify that number.

130 goddamnedfrank  Apr 1, 2014 3:54:42pm

re: #112 wrenchwench

Also looks like it might be worth more than $10 million.

If you look at the before photos of the Oso slide area you’ll see some pretty large houses. No google street view there but we’re talking 2500 sq. ft. footprints and solid acreage, some with river front views. It looked like a cute area, a little rural compared to Seattle but nice. Like Redmond / Samammish used to be before the Microsoft millionaires developed everything.

131 klys  Apr 1, 2014 3:55:28pm

re: #127 jaunte

[Embedded image]

The right’s day-after freakout: Conservatives fail to grapple with new Obamacare reality

The Twitter account used as an example says all you need to know.

132 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 3:55:46pm

re: #127 jaunte

[Embedded image]

The right’s day-after freakout: Conservatives fail to grapple with new Obamacare reality

If you are a Conservative, and have income so low as to qualify for Medicaid, or a complete subsidy, won’t your Conservative friends hate you for being poor not working hard enough?

133 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 3:55:55pm

re: #127 jaunte

[Embedded image]

The right’s day-after freakout: Conservatives fail to grapple with new Obamacare reality

The funny thing is that this wouldn’t break the system. And in fact every conservative who suddenly found him-her-self paying that much less for insurance may turn into defenders of it.

I have said, and still say, that one of the best examples I’ve seen of the short-sightedness of the current Republican party is their tagging of the ACA with the “Obamacare” moniker.

It won’t go away for at least a generation. And that means at least a generation is going to be regularly reminded which president, and which party, got it through. “Hands off my Obamacare.”

134 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 3:56:01pm

I’m wondering if these fires are being set. Another Buckhead mansion was gutted last week; it had been empty for several years.

Speaking of Buckhead…

Atlanta Archbishop apologizes for lavish mansion; Read full response

cbsatlanta.com

135 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 3:56:07pm

re: #127 jaunte

[Embedded image]

The right’s day-after freakout: Conservatives fail to grapple with new Obamacare reality

surely a freakout over health insurance has to be about the most boring freak out in political history

136 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 3:56:18pm

re: #131 klys

Kincannon’s a loon, but even the ‘serious’ opposition is looking flat-footed.

137 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 3:57:39pm

re: #133 kirkspencer

Someone on Twitter just pointed out that Chuck Todd has dropped “Obamacare” and started calling it the A.C.A.

138 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 3:58:42pm

re: #126 dog philosopher

Eating seven or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day, and not the previously recommended five, could prolong your life, research has suggested.

but how to deal with the depression from being a slave to a rutabaga

A big old honking green salad does it for me, plus a banana and orange.

139 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 3:59:10pm

re: #129 klys

It is rather hard to justify that number.

The standard justification comes in what used to be a large niche: farms. “You’re making people break up the family farm and sell of part to make it happen.”

If you’ve dealt with farms the sleight of hand and dishonesty in that is obvious. For those who haven’t, the value of an estate is net its attendant debts. A family farm with several million dollars of land that has no attendant debt is, well, it can handle being broken up.

140 wrenchwench  Apr 1, 2014 3:59:16pm

re: #130 goddamnedfrank

If you look at the before photos of the Oso slide area you’ll see some pretty large houses. No google street view there but we’re talking 2500 sq. ft. footprints and solid acreage, some with river front views. It looked like a cute area, a little rural compared to Seattle but nice. Like Redmond / Samammish used to be before the Microsoft millionaires developed everything.

I’ve biked the road north of Oso and the road south of Oso, but never been through Oso. I remember the area as being poor and rural, but after 20 years in New Mexico, I probably wouldn’t consider anything in Washington ‘poor’.

141 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 3:59:44pm

re: #137 jaunte

Someone on Twitter just pointed out that Chuck Todd has dropped “Obamacare” and started calling it the A.C.A.

And now begins the slow pivot as some critics go “We were never really against it…”

142 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 4:00:35pm

The great thing about so many of the wingnuts bitching about the ACA is how they now seem ready to jump on a single payer system.

143 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 4:01:06pm

re: #120 GeneJockey

Actually it’s now anything less than 5.35 Million.

But what I find amazing is the number of people on the right who think the rich are taxed too much, and that both capital gains and estates should not be taxed AT ALL!!!!

And somehow, they claim, this will lead to wealth for all.

Imagine an America in which there is NO tax on capital gains, NO tax on dividends, NO tax on estates. Absolutely nothing to stop the concentration of wealth, and indeed, much, much higher tax rates for the nonwealthy.

HURR HURR FAIR TAX!!!11!!!!=TAX THE POORS!!!!!!!

144 klys  Apr 1, 2014 4:02:39pm

re: #139 kirkspencer

The standard justification comes in what used to be a large niche: farms. “You’re making people break up the family farm and sell of part to make it happen.”

If you’ve dealt with farms the sleight of hand and dishonesty in that is obvious. For those who haven’t, the value of an estate is net its attendant debts. A family farm with several million dollars of land that has no attendant debt is, well, it can handle being broken up.

That and there are already certain exemptions available for family farms.

145 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 4:03:17pm

re: #130 goddamnedfrank

If you look at the before photos of the Oso slide area you’ll see some pretty large houses. No google street view there but we’re talking 2500 sq. ft. footprints and solid acreage, some with river front views. It looked like a cute area, a little rural compared to Seattle but nice. Like Redmond / Samammish used to be before the Microsoft millionaires developed everything.

There are more than a few allegations going around of how various people got prohibitions waived and analyses rewritten so as to build their high-value houses.

Not surprised. It happens a lot for beach-front and ocean-side properties. Some people just think that enough money can solve every problem.

146 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 4:04:56pm

re: #143 Pie-onist Overlord

HURR HURR FAIR TAX!!!11!!!!=TAX THE POORS!!!!!!!

Sometimes, I think the Romans were really on to something with their whole “seizure of assets and banishment” thing.

147 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 4:05:13pm

re: #145 kirkspencer

Not surprised. It happens a lot for beach-front and ocean-side properties. Some people just think that enough money can solve every problem.

but try talking about public schools and then it’s “you can’t solve problems by throwing money at them”

148 BeenHereAwhile  Apr 1, 2014 4:05:53pm

re: #107 Dr Lizardo

Oh, and one film I definitely would love to see made: Childhood’s End from the novel by Arthur C. Clarke.

However, seeing as how

[Embedded content]

I have the horrible feeling some exec somewhere would say, “Can’t we have a more upbeat ending?” to which the proper - and only - answer is a firm and resolute “No.”

My Clarke choice would be “The Deep Range.”

149 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 4:15:05pm

It’s quiet…

150 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 4:17:58pm

There was a time, when LGF went down, we had to connect at the sekrit bunker website. Not everyone knew it existed.

Now, there is twitter.

How are you this evening.

151 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 4:18:37pm

FUCKING PAYCHECKS, HOW DO THEY WORK?

152 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 4:21:10pm

re: #107 Dr Lizardo

Oh, and one film I definitely would love to see made: Childhood’s End from the novel by Arthur C. Clarke.

However, seeing as how

[Embedded content]

I have the horrible feeling some exec somewhere would say, “Can’t we have a more upbeat ending?” to which the proper - and only - answer is a firm and resolute “No.”

Oh, and the Overlords have to look like this. >Exactly like this:

[Embedded image]

That does not look Feline to me.

You are going to be in troooouuuubbbblllleee!

153 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 4:21:14pm

re: #150 FemNaziBitch

There was a time, when LGF went down, we had to connect at the sekrit bunker website. Not everyone knew it existed.

Now, there is twitter.

How are you this evening.

How could you speak aloud of the secret bunker website?! We were sworn to secrecy!!

154 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 4:22:00pm

re: #128 kirkspencer

You’re both right - over $5 million.

You don’t need titles to be an American Aristocrat.

What about Kentucky Colonels?

And all those people with Esq. after their name.

155 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 4:22:37pm

re: #129 klys

It is rather hard to justify that number.

Sometimes I think it would be easier on the population to support inbred royalty and at least have something to show for it in all the palaces and tourism than to give it all to the B-school thieves who, you must admit, have developed a very clever scheme, economically and politically, for keeping the wealth on top by demanding huge salaries, perks and stocks and railing against anyone who challenges them. Their “loyalty” is to stockholders, most of which themselves are in the 1%; the average American has little to no stock investments unless in the form of a pension, a 401k, etc.

This is from 2010:

Table 3: Wealth distribution by type of asset, 2010
Investment Assets
Top 1 percent Next 9 percent Bottom 90 percent
Stocks and mutual funds 35.0% 45.8% 19.2%
Financial securities 64.4% 29.5% 6.1%
Trusts 38.0% 43.0% 19.0%
Business equity 61.4% 30.5% 8.1%
Non-home real estate 35.5% 43.6% 20.9%
TOTAL investment assets 50.4% 37.5% 12.0%
Housing, Liquid Assets, Pension Assets, and Debt
Top 1 percent Next 9 percent Bottom 90 percent
Principal residence 9.2% 31.0% 59.8%
Deposits 28.1% 42.5% 29.5%
Life insurance 20.6% 34.1% 45.3%
Pension accounts 15.4% 50.2% 34.5%
TOTAL other assets 13.0% 37.8% 49.2%
Debt 5.9% 21.6% 72.5%
From Wolff (2012).

The bottom 90% held only 12% of total investment assets and 72.5% of total debt in the US in 2010.

And, at least royalty, which I am very much against, being an American democrat, have a sense of loyalty to their country and do little harm—these CEOs could care less where they make their money even while they live like royalty themselves and by living out their greed, harm millions, if not billions, of people.

Sorry—forgot the link: www2.ucsc.edu

156 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 1, 2014 4:24:19pm

Evening All. I probably won’t be with ya too long tonight. My company dumped a SharePoint technology demo on me in 2 weeks, and so far I’ve been able to extract exactly 0 info from them regarding what they want, target audience, time frame, or much of anything. The only guidance I’ve gotten so far is “It’s a chance for you to have some Free-Form fun with Sharepoint and any other technologies you want to talk about”.

Well, if I were doing a quick demo for non-tech people, that would be more than enough guidance, but for a technology demo to IT Professionals and Decisions makers (likely audience based on pass experiences) that is sadly lacking. I’ve let them know what info I need, how quickly I need it, and the likely results if I don’t get it.

I have to admit that I had to do 4 emails before I got one that I could actually press the “SEND” button on. The rest would have been, lets say, “Career Horizons Limiting”.

So, how was your day?

RBS

157 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 4:24:33pm

re: #153 Targetpractice

How could you speak aloud of the secret bunker website?! We were sworn to secrecy!!

Oh dear, I thought it was ok now that we have Twitter and transparency is the meme.

158 urbanmeemaw  Apr 1, 2014 4:25:47pm

re: #42 Justanotherhuman

I work for Robert Half and I qualify for its high premium, high deductible, minimal health care group insurance. The company sent me a letter stating that for purposes of the ACA they were not considered as an employer making insurance available to its employees. I did not enroll in my employer’s plan and, sadly, since i did not qualify for subsidies because of income, the cheapest plan I could get in Cincinnati cost 500 a month, which I can’t afford. I am very happy that so many people can now have health insurance even though it didn’t work for me. But I will be getting Medicare in October this year, so I can live without health insurance another few months.

159 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 4:29:18pm

re: #154 FemNaziBitch

What about Kentucky Colonels?

And all those people with Esq. after their name.

Title of honor and title of profession respectively. The constitution prohibits titles of nobility. There is some difference. (and trust attorneys to parse law so as to allow themselves to have a title - esquire.)

160 wrenchwench  Apr 1, 2014 4:31:38pm

re: #157 FemNaziBitch

Oh dear, I thought it was ok now that we have Twitter and transparency is the meme.

When I was writing the User’s Guide for LGF, I thought maybe it was going to unnecessarily brighten up the stalkers, but I happened by one of their dens (I don’t go there intentionally, but it showed up in a search for something here) and their post about it was ‘I don’t get what the big deal is’.

It would probably take a 2 by 4 to brighten them up.

161 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 4:31:38pm

re: #158 urbanmeemaw

I work for Robert Half and I qualify for its high premium, high deductible, minimal health care group insurance. The company sent me a letter stating that for purposes of the ACA they were not considered as an employer making insurance available to its employees. I did not enroll in my employer’s plan and, sadly, since i did not qualify for subsidies because of income, the cheapest plan I could get in Cincinnati cost 500 a month, which I can’t afford. I am very happy that so many people can now have health insurance even though it didn’t work for me. But I will be getting Medicare in October this year, so I can live without health insurance another few months.

Oh, sorry, but how does this work?

“The company sent me a letter stating that for purposes of the ACA they were not considered as an employer making insurance available to its employees.”

Aren’t they a pretty large nationwide company? What justification, if any, did they give for that remark?

But I do sympathize with the $500/mo reeking premium; I went without any coverage for about 4 yrs before Medicare kicked in. The couple of visits I made for a checkup I was able to easily pay, even working PT. It was actually cheaper than buying the kind of crappy PT coverage the co offered.

Keep thy fingers crossed! : )

162 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 1, 2014 4:31:54pm

re: #154 FemNaziBitch

What about Kentucky Colonels?

And all those people with Esq. after their name.

What about King Kong Bundy?

RBS

163 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 4:32:07pm

re: #159 kirkspencer

Title of honor and title of profession respectively. The constitution prohibits titles of nobility. There is some difference. (and trust attorneys to parse law so as to allow themselves to have a title - esquire.)

since an esquire, in the old days, was merely another word for squire, i wouldn’t consider it overwhelmingly impressive as a title of nobility

squires held bridles and cleaned up the armor

164 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 4:34:30pm

re: #163 dog philosopher

since an esquire, in the old days, was merely another word for squire, i wouldn’t consider it overwhelmingly impressive as a title of nobility

squires held bridles and cleaned up the armor

I worked for quite a few lawyers, but none ever used “Esq.” after their name.

165 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 1, 2014 4:34:55pm

re: #163 dog philosopher

since an esquire, in the old days, was merely another word for squire, i wouldn’t consider it overwhelmingly impressive as a title of nobility

squires held bridles and cleaned up the armor

Well, doesn’t that pretty much describe the duties of a lawyer today, Pull the Strings and Clean up the Messes?

RBS

166 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 4:36:51pm

I thought a squire was one who owned land.

167 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 4:37:31pm
168 Mentis Fugit  Apr 1, 2014 4:38:21pm

I want Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines quartet and nothing less will do. A plethora of cookie-cutter YA dystopia films out there, and something truly original can’t catch a break.

Municipal Darwinism FTW.

169 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 4:41:00pm

re: #166 FemNaziBitch

I thought a squire was one who owned land.

That would be a knight. Squire was a knight’s go-fer, with the hope of one day becoming a knight himself.

170 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 4:43:27pm

re: #169 Targetpractice

That would be a knight. Squire was a knight’s go-fer, with the hope of one day becoming a knight himself.

The Wiki says we are all correct.

171 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 1, 2014 4:44:14pm

So did anyone else hear the story of this new movie remake coming out?

Keenau Reeves as Citizen Kane…

///4/1/14

172 klys  Apr 1, 2014 4:44:43pm

I earned the right for my junk mail to be addressed to Dr. klys.

I get to use it mostly there and things like hotel registration.

173 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 4:47:08pm

re: #168 Mentis Fugit

I want Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines quartet and nothing less will do. A plethora of cookie-cutter YA dystopia films out there, and something truly original can’t catch a break.

Municipal Darwinism FTW.

In 2009, Peter Jackson was reported to have it on his slate of options. (link1, link2)

174 klys  Apr 1, 2014 4:47:46pm

re: #173 kirkspencer

In 2009, Peter Jackson was reported to have it on his slate of options. (link1, link2)

The question is, of course, whether you consider that a good or bad thing. :)

175 wrenchwench  Apr 1, 2014 4:48:08pm

This is one of those things that just keeps getting better until the end.

176 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 4:50:13pm

Violinist Itzhak Perlman Abandoned by Disability Staff at Toronto Airport

The leading violinist, who contracted polio at the age of four and moves around via mobility scooter, complained that the unidentified assistant ‘walked me to an elevator and said “that’s where I’m leaving you”’.

When Perlman gestured to his luggage and asked how he would carry it through customs, the assistant replied: ‘Look, I’m not your personal assistant, you’re not paying me for this, you’re the one who chose to carry an extra bag with you.’ The violinist was forced to load up his lap with his bags, crutches and violin.

What. The. Fucking. Fuck.

177 EmmaAnne  Apr 1, 2014 4:51:10pm

re: #164 Justanotherhuman

I worked for quite a few lawyers, but none ever used “Esq.” after their name.

It is pretty old fashioned. Sometimes lawyers use it for other lawyers (in correspondence), but it would be kind of pretentious to use it for one’s self.

178 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 4:53:02pm

The average wage for a worker is less than $20/hr; Rex Tillerson of Exxon Mobil makes close to $20,000 an hour.

aflcio.org

179 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 4:53:43pm

esq.

i think it’s interesting to contemplate how the meaning of the words “gentleman” and “lady” have changed in the context of the united states

here, we don’t use them to mean persons of “gentle”, that is, non-commoner, birth, but rather to describe a mode of behavior

to ‘act like a gentleman’ (or ‘lady’) in the united states means to show good manners, that is, to treat everybody with respect

a very different thing than the phrase would have meant i think in england 500 years ago…

180 TedStriker  Apr 1, 2014 4:55:08pm

re: #171 William Barnett-Lewis

So did anyone else hear the story of this new movie remake coming out?

Keenau Reeves as Citizen Kane…

[Embedded image]

///4/1/14

The credits are a dead giveaway…

181 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 4:58:21pm

Wingnuts are so dumb. THEY’RE ALL PHOTO OPS U FREAKING MORONS. Reagan & W DID NOT CHOP WOOD, idiots.

182 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 4:58:22pm

re: #176 Pie-onist Overlord

Violinist Itzhak Perlman Abandoned by Disability Staff at Toronto Airport

What. The. Fucking. Fuck.

Have to wonder how he treats his staff?

183 darthstar  Apr 1, 2014 5:05:33pm

Guy makes his Prius all-electric…then jacks his power from Muni.
thebolditalic.com

184 missliberties  Apr 1, 2014 5:07:35pm

Thanks Obama!

185 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 5:08:54pm

re: #172 klys

I earned the right for my junk mail to be addressed to Dr. klys.

I get to use it mostly there and things like hotel registration.

You mean you don’t insist on Herr Professor Doktor … at all times? ///

186 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 5:10:24pm

bbl

187 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 5:11:33pm

re: #179 dog philosopher

esq.

i think it’s interesting to contemplate how the meaning of the words “gentleman” and “lady” have changed in the context of the united states

here, we don’t use them to mean persons of “gentle”, that is, non-commoner, birth, but rather to describe a mode of behavior

to ‘act like a gentleman’ (or ‘lady’) in the united states means to show good manners, that is, to treat everybody with respect

a very different thing than the phrase would have meant i think in england 500 years ago…

“Gentleman” and “lady” were also used as a bludgeon to force appearance, dress, and moral issues on others. How many times did I hear as a young woman the phrase, “Ladies don’t…”, which was a way to control my behavior, etc.

However, it seems some attitudes today, esp the “I don’t care what people think or say about me”, are pretty damned anti-social when you think about it. Seems as though that is the bludgeon that’s used today, it’s a kind of artificial understanding of what “freedom” is about, a sort of narcissistic self-involvement that’s really off-putting.

There is a fine line between “conforming” because it’s expected or demanded, and becoming sheep-like in adopting the rules of others, such as following peers, etc.

188 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 5:14:48pm

re: #178 Justanotherhuman

The average wage for a worker is less than $20/hr; Rex Tillerson of Exxon Mobil makes close to $20,000 an hour.

aflcio.org

In five working days, Rex has a six figure income. A six figure annual income is pretty good money for normal people.

Rex’s takings are more than 1,000x average earnings. There is no theory of labor or talent or executive compensation or whatever that can justify this. None.

189 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 5:16:44pm
190 Patricia Kayden  Apr 1, 2014 5:17:20pm

re: #52 jaunte

From Breitbart:

These points don’t seem controversial.

To you. You’re not insane.

191 b.d.  Apr 1, 2014 5:18:29pm

re: #189 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Holy smokes!

192 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 5:18:55pm

re: #189 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Surf’s up!

// (Sorry, dark humor’s how I deal with these things)

193 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 5:20:02pm

re: #188 EPR-radar

In five working days, Rex has a six figure income. A six figure annual income is pretty good money for normal people.

Rex’s takings are more than 1,000x average earnings. There is no theory of labor or talent or executive compensation or whatever that can justify this. None.

And some CEOs actually make more an hour than he does. The AFL/CIO site has yrly pay for 2012’s top CEOs. I think Larry Ellison of Oracle made something like $96M that year.

aflcio.org

194 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 5:20:31pm

re: #188 EPR-radar

In five working days, Rex has a six figure income. A six figure annual income is pretty good money for normal people.

Rex’s takings are more than 1,000x average earnings. There is no theory of labor or talent or executive compensation or whatever that can justify this. None.

So Rex can pay for the Mayflower oil spill out of the spare change in his sofa.

195 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 5:21:17pm

re: #189 NJDhockeyfan

Tsunami bulletin was issued. A wave was detected at two locations, so the warnings were issued.

196 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 5:22:55pm

Wow, that quake is so big Hawaii might get a tsunami warning.

197 Patricia Kayden  Apr 1, 2014 5:23:32pm

re: #171 William Barnett-Lewis

So did anyone else hear the story of this new movie remake coming out?

Keenau Reeves as Citizen Kane…

[Embedded image]

///4/1/14

Oh dear. Doesn’t look like this will end well.

198 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 5:24:49pm

That quake was huge…

The quake was widely felt in Chile, Bolivia and Peru - @SkyAlertMx
end of alert

199 klys  Apr 1, 2014 5:26:00pm

re: #185 EPR-radar

You mean you don’t insist on Herr Professor Doktor … at all times? ///

I should.

/

200 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 5:26:04pm

Here’s a fine use for $300 million of public funds. Tennessee republicans used the threat of pulling $300 million of economic incentives from VW if their plant ended up unionizing.

jrn.com

201 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 5:26:54pm
202 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 5:27:12pm

And despite the potential loss of life and property I had to laugh at the subject line: Iquique quake.

203 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 5:28:33pm

re: #181 Pie-onist Overlord

Wingnuts are so dumb. THEY’RE ALL PHOTO OPS U FREAKING MORONS. Reagan & W DID NOT CHOP WOOD, idiots.

[Embedded content]

Because clearing brush on a ranch is an important criterion for choosing the Chief Executive of a nation where only a tiny percentage own ranches and/or clear brush.

204 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 5:28:37pm

re: #201 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

205 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 5:29:17pm

re: #203 GeneJockey

Because clearing brush on a ranch is an important criterion for choosing the Chief Executive of a nation where only a tiny percentage own ranches and/or clear brush.

And anyway there are hired hands who clear away the actual brush.

206 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 5:29:19pm

Hawaii being evaluated for watch/warning in wake of 8.0 off coast of Chile.

tsunami.gov

207 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 5:29:25pm
208 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 5:29:35pm

Sea-level readings indicate a tsunami was generated by earthquake off Chile - @NOAA
read more on weather.gov

209 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 5:30:23pm

Wow

210 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 5:30:35pm

re: #206 lawhawk

Hawaii being evaluated for watch/warning in wake of 8.0 off coast of Chile.

tsunami.gov

I have a brother in Hilo and a grand-nephew visiting Chile.

211 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 5:30:49pm

re: #207 jaunte

[Embedded content]

I imagine by now that the damage was already done. Might not have swung the state in Romney’s favor, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the state and local races got screwed over by this.

212 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 5:32:42pm

re: #207 jaunte

Scott’s FL label pin looks kind of like a gun.

How appropriate for FL, ground zero of the stand your ground bad craziness.

213 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 5:32:53pm

re: #209 NJDhockeyfan

Wow

[Embedded content]

Obviously God is pissed over Obamacare’s success.

//

214 klys  Apr 1, 2014 5:33:26pm

re: #210 GeneJockey

I have a brother in Hilo and a grand-nephew visiting Chile.

Hawaii has a few hours yet to prepare. Although I have seen some reported heights, it is unclear yet whether those come from shore measurements / wave gauges close to shore or further out to sea.

215 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 5:33:37pm

re: #205 Pie-onist Overlord

And anyway there are hired hands who clear away the actual brush.

Right. It’s a vanity thing.

But it leaves aside the fact that a majority of Americans lives in metro areas, not farms, not ranches, not small rural towns. And yet we’re supposed to consider farmers, ranchers and small town folk as the REAL Americans.

Screw that. And I say that as one who spent his first 24 years in small towns.

216 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 5:33:58pm
217 klys  Apr 1, 2014 5:35:57pm

re: #216 NJDhockeyfan

You could cut out three layers of middlemen and go to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center to get the data.

MEASUREMENTS OR REPORTS OF TSUNAMI WAVE ACTIVITY

GAUGE LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL PER
—————————- ——- ——— ——- ———————- ——-
PISAGUA CL 19.6S 70.2W 2352Z 1.92M / 6.3FT 44MIN
IQUIQUE CL 20.2S 70.1W 2351Z 1.70M / 5.6FT 56MIN

These do appear to be measured some distance off-shore; how far is a different question.

218 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 5:36:45pm
219 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 5:36:55pm

re: #212 EPR-radar

Scott’s FL label pin looks kind of like a gun.

How appropriate for FL, ground zero of the stand your ground bad craziness.

Florida: America’s Penis

220 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 5:38:24pm

re: #204 NJDhockeyfan

If there’s a tsunami to hit Hawaii, it would occur 3:24am local time at the earliest.

Still no watches/warnings posted for Hawaii. Just work off the PTWC or tsunami.gov sites - much quicker than playing telephone from 3d party sources.

221 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 5:38:29pm

re: #214 klys

Hawaii has a few hours yet to prepare. Although I have seen some reported heights, it is unclear yet whether those come from shore measurements / wave gauges close to shore or further out to sea.

Back in about ‘85 or so, there was an earthquake off Alaska, for which they issues a tsunami warning extending down the coast into Northern CA. There was a Postdoc from Indiana in the lab, who said, “Gee, wouldn’t it be cool to go to Ocean Beach and see that coming in?”

I said, “Right, Mark - ‘Wow!’”, I said, miming watching a huge wave passing far above my head.

“Oh. Yeah. Maybe not such a good idea.”

Ya think?

222 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 5:38:49pm
223 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 5:41:05pm

re: #222 Justanotherhuman

Possible arrival times for tsunami in named countries.

224 lawhawk  Apr 1, 2014 5:41:55pm

Revised magnitude according to PTWC: 8.2.

A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR

CHILE / PERU / ECUADOR

A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR

COLOMBIA / PANAMA / COSTA RICA / NICARAGUA / EL SALVADOR

FOR ALL OTHER AREAS COVERED BY THIS BULLETIN… IT IS FOR
INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME.

THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY
NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE
DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND
ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME - 2347Z 01 APR 2014
COORDINATES - 19.8 SOUTH 70.8 WEST
DEPTH - 10 KM
LOCATION - NEAR THE COAST OF NORTHERN CHILE
MAGNITUDE - 8.2

225 Decatur Deb  Apr 1, 2014 5:42:19pm

re: #212 EPR-radar

Scott’s FL label pin looks kind of like a gun.

How appropriate for FL, ground zero of the stand your ground bad craziness.

Looks like a limp dick to me.

226 klys  Apr 1, 2014 5:42:20pm

re: #220 lawhawk

If there’s a tsunami to hit Hawaii, it would occur 3:24am local time at the earliest.

Still no watches/warnings posted for Hawaii. Just work off the PTWC or tsunami.gov sites - much quicker than playing telephone from 3d party sources.

If you read the observations versus the expected arrival times, it is now reading like the tsunami has begun to arrive and we are talking about an event predominantly in the 6ft range.

GAUGE LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL PER
—————————- ——- ——— ——- ———————- ——-
MATARANI PE 17.0S 72.1W 0021Z 0.53M / 1.7FT 24MIN
ARICA CL 18.5S 70.3W 0014Z 0.93M / 3.1FT 28MIN
PATACHE CL 20.8S 70.2W 0015Z 1.51M / 5.0FT 10MIN
IQUIQUE CL 20.2S 70.1W 0005Z 2.11M / 6.9FT 12MIN
PISAGUA CL 19.6S 70.2W 0004Z 1.73M / 5.7FT 12MIN

Variations will be observed, of course, based on local seafloor geometry, etc., but this isn’t looking like an event similar to 2011 or even 2004.

227 thedopefishlives  Apr 1, 2014 5:42:45pm

Wow. A lizard passes out on the couch for a couple of hours, and an earthquake/tsunami duo is in play. God bless you, Mother Earth.

228 Decatur Deb  Apr 1, 2014 5:43:49pm

re: #225 Decatur Deb

Looks like a limp dick to me.

The pin is kinda lame, too.

229 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 5:44:46pm

6.9 -foot tsunami wave reported at Iquique, Chile, following earthquake - @NWS_PTWC
read more on weather.gov

230 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 5:49:08pm

re: #227 thedopefishlives

Wow. A lizard passes out on the couch for a couple of hours, and an earthquake/tsunami duo is in play. God bless you, Mother Earth.

So it’s YOUR fault!
///

231 goddamnedfrank  Apr 1, 2014 5:49:46pm

re: #207 jaunte

[Embedded content]

The only thing cool about that guy is that he kind of looks like Matt Frewer.

232 GeneJockey  Apr 1, 2014 5:51:56pm

re: #231 goddamnedfrank

The only thing cool about that guy is that he kind of looks like Matt Frewer.

All skulls look kinda similar.

233 Belafon  Apr 1, 2014 5:52:45pm

re: #231 goddamnedfrank

Only if Matt had his face ripped off and rebuilt by clay.

234 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 5:52:52pm

Aha!

PG&E Criminally Charged In Fatal Bay Area Gas Pipeline Blast

losangeles.cbslocal.com

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pacific Gas and Electric has been charged with federal felony counts involving safety violations linked to a 2010 natural gas pipeline explosion that killed eight people in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“The indictment filed Tuesday charges the utility with 12 felonies and accuses the company of violating numerous federal pipeline safety laws.

“Federal prosecutors allege that PG&E knowingly relied on erroneous and incomplete information when assessing the safety of the pipeline that eventually ruptured, sparked a fireball and leveled 38 homes in San Bruno.” More

235 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 5:53:23pm

George Carlin - Language complaints at American Press Club

Youtube Video

Now having somewhat successfully established my press credentials, and because you and I have at least one thing in common, which is that all of us deal with language all the time. I thought it might be nice today for me to come to you with some of my language complaints, certainly not to blame them on you, although of course you are implicated.

And not that you can help it, I mean, the problem is really with the people you cover, the politicians, the celebrities and the lawyers. And although their level of insincerity is astonishing, it’s still kind of fun to hear them talk. In particular, it’s fun to listen to Washington talk. Whenever the issue of term limits comes up, I always tell people, the only term limits I am interested in would be to limit some of the terms used by politicians.

They speak of course with great caution, because they must take care not to actually say anything. Proof of this, according to their own words, is that they don’t actually say things, they indicate them. As I indicated yesterday and as the President indicated to me, but sometimes they don’t indicate, they suggest, let me suggest, that as I indicated yesterday, I haven’t determined that yet. See, they don’t decide they determine, if it’s a really serious matter, they make a judgment, I haven’t made a judgment on that yet. When the hearings are concluded, I will make a judgment or I might make an assessment.

I am not sure, I haven’t determined that yet, but when I do, I will advise you, they don’t tell they advise. I advised him that I had made a judgment, thus far he hasn’t responded. They don’t answer, they respond. He hasn’t responded to my initiative. An initiative is an idea that isn’t going anywhere. When he responds to my initiative, I will review his response, take a position, and make a recommendation. See, they don’t read the review, they don’t have opinions, they take positions, and they don’t give advice, they make recommendations.

And so, at long last after each has responded to the others initiatives, and each has reviewed the other’s responses, and everyone has taken a position, made a judgment, and offered a recommendation, now, they have to do something, but that would be much too direct. So, instead they address the problem, we are addressing the problem, and we’ll soon be proceeding, that’s a big activity here in Washington, proceeding. They are always proceeding, they are moving forward, a lot of that goes on.

Senator, have you solved that problem? Well, we are moving forward on that? And when they are not moving forward, they are moving something else forward, such as the process. We have to move the process forward so we can implement the provisions of the initiative in order to meet these challenges; no one has problems anymore, challenges. That’s why we need people, who can make the tough decisions, tough decisions like how much soft money, can I expect to collect in exchange for my core values, so that - thank you, so that I can continue my work in government.

Of course, no politician would admit to such a lowly station as working in government, serving the nation. I am serving the nation; another favorite distortion is public service. I am in public service, I like America, don’t you? The food is great, but the public service is terrible. Now, folks, a question for you, do you think it’s possible that one of these politicians whose judgment is so poor that he honestly thinks of himself as serving the nation might occasionally be expected to indulge in the little patriotism, huh, what do you think?

Well, of course, not only is it possible, it’s inevitable and that’s what he is at his very best, that’s when he trots out the really good stuff all across this great land of ours, the greatest nation on earth, the greatest nation in the history of the world. And in times of military crisis, you can be sure that someone in a suit in this town will eventually plant himself in front of a camera and carry on a great deal about the most powerful nation on the face of the earth. Normally, during peace time, the politicians will refer to people in the military as our young men and women stationed around the world.

But in war time, they quickly become our brave young fighting men and women stationed halfway around the world in places whose names they can’t pronounce wondering, if they’ll ever see their loved ones again. For added emotional impacts, sons and daughters can always be substituted for men and women. And so, I think we can sum this up by saying, that where the military is concerned, the extent of a politician’s insincerity can be measured by how far around the world our soldiers are stationed and whether or not any of them can pronounce it.

Incidentally, another way of expressing this sentiment is to say, we are sending our young men and women to places the average American can’t find on a map. I’ve always thought of this kind of funny and somewhat out of character for a politician to go out of his way to point out the low level of American intelligence, when indeed his very job depends upon it. It would seem to fly in the face of that other rhetorical standby of theirs the American people are a lot smarter than they are given credit for. This is said with a straight face although it is obvious of course that the proposition is being stated precisely backwards.

But the politicians, god bless them or something like that, they are at their most entertaining when they are in trouble. When they are in trouble, their explanations usually began simply with words like miscommunication. What did you wrong Senator? Well, it was a miscommunication or I was quoted out of context, better yet and more ironic, they twisted my words. Such a nice touch, a person who routinely spends his days torturing the language complains, they twisted my words.

Then, as the controversy continues to heat up, he moves to his next level of complaint, the whole thing has been blown out of proportion. The whole, it’s always the whole thing, apparently, no one has never claimed that only a small portion of something was blown out of proportion. It has to be the whole thing, that’s because now he is feeling the heat. And so, as time passes and more evidence comes in, he suddenly changes directions and tells us, we are trying to get to the bottom of this, now he is on the side of law and orders, jujitsu, really.

236 thedopefishlives  Apr 1, 2014 5:56:17pm

re: #230 GeneJockey

So it’s YOUR fault!
///

Look, I know I snore loud already, but SERIOUSLY.

237 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 5:56:31pm

re: #234 Justanotherhuman

How does a corporate felony conviction work? Is any person held responsible, or is it just fines levied on the corporation?

238 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 5:56:37pm

We are trying to get to the bottom of this, so we can get the facts out to the American people

239 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 6:00:57pm

re: #237 jaunte

How does a corporate felony conviction work? Is any person held responsible, or is it just fines levied on the corporation?

Well, it’s Federal law, and I imagine actual executives would be involved. Don’t know much about Fed criminal law, but I expect Fed prosecutors are going to wrote up the appropriate charges and when perfected, will issue subpoenas.

240 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 6:01:09pm

re: #237 jaunte

How does a corporate felony conviction work? Is any person held responsible, or is it just fines levied on the corporation?

Normally, a civil judgement against a corporation doesn’t involve the owners/executives in personal liability. This protection is basically the whole point of a corporation.

However, criminal charges can pierce this shield.

If the state can prove a case against individual decision makers at PG&E that led to this explosion, those people are in for a rough ride.

241 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 6:05:35pm

re: #240 EPR-radar

Normally, a civil judgement against a corporation doesn’t involve the owners/executives in personal liability. This protection is basically the whole point of a corporation.

However, criminal charges can pierce this shield.

If the state can prove a case against individual decision makers at PG&E that led to this explosion, those people are in for a rough ride.

Yes, some of them have quit or been forced out, but that wouldn’t mitigate the criminal charges against them. I’m just hoping the statute of limitations hasn’t run on filing charges against them.

242 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 6:06:22pm

interesting.

243 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 6:06:26pm

Companies convicted of felonies in the United States

Fines don’t seem to be deterrent.

244 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 6:07:29pm

re: #243 jaunte

Companies convicted of felonies in the United States

Fines don’t seem to be deterrent.

They plan the possible fines/bribes into the project. “Cost of doing business”.

245 simoom  Apr 1, 2014 6:07:43pm

From a couple days back when the Exchange tally was at 6 million, on how many previously uninsured have gained insurance since the law’s passing:

latimes.com

As the law’s initial enrollment period closes, at least 9.5 million previously uninsured people have gained coverage. Some have done so through marketplaces created by the law, some through other private insurance and others through Medicaid, which has expanded under the law in about half the states.

The tally draws from a review of state and federal enrollment reports, surveys and interviews with insurance executives and government officials nationwide.

The article breaks down the various sources of the newly insured and also factors in those who haven’t renewed policies canceled for failing to meet the minimum standards:

• Fewer than a million people who had health plans in 2013 are now uninsured because their plans were canceled for not meeting new standards set by the law, the Rand survey indicates.

246 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 6:08:36pm

re: #241 Justanotherhuman

Looks like the SoL on those Federal crimes is 5 yrs. Prosecutors need to hurry the hell up.

codes.lp.findlaw.com

247 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 6:13:42pm

re: #237 jaunte

How does a corporate felony conviction work? Is any person held responsible, or is it just fines levied on the corporation?

For the long, see chapter eight of the federal sentencing guidelines.

For the short, fines. The minimum is to remedy the harms done by the organization. At the high end “… if the organization operated primarily for a criminal purpose or primarily by criminal means, the fine should be set sufficiently high to divest the organization of all its assets. “

Probation only if it’s needed to let the organization meet the obligation to remedy its harm.

Supplemental: agents of the organization who committed criminal acts are individually liable.

That last is the ‘fun’ part. The prosecution has to demonstrate that the actions of the agents were due to the organization, not exclusive of it. For a wild example, if an agent of Koch Industries dynamited the headquarters of Greenpeace USA, Koch Industries has not committed criminal action /unless/ evidence exists that it’s due to policy or the orders of the board. (Order of the CEO falls into a grey area.)

248 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 6:14:04pm

Chile’s emergency office: Earthquake has caused landslides which are partially blocking some roads - @Reuters
end of alert

249 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 6:15:15pm
250 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 6:16:01pm

re: #243 jaunte

Companies convicted of felonies in the United States

Fines don’t seem to be deterrent.

We are trying to get to the bottom of this, so we can get the facts out to the American people.

251 Justanotherhuman  Apr 1, 2014 6:16:55pm

Four aftershocks after initial quake.

sismologia.cl

252 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 6:17:46pm
253 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 6:17:58pm
254 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 6:18:06pm
255 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 6:18:15pm
256 b.d.  Apr 1, 2014 6:20:54pm

Has CNN said if the tsunami might uncover any wreckage or clues in the Malaysian Air flight 370 mystery?

//

257 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 6:20:57pm

Be good to your Feline Overlord.

258 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 6:21:14pm
259 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 6:22:19pm
260 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 6:22:31pm

What is the point of a check box that says “Remember my logon and password” if I still get prompted for my password all the time?

Not here, but some other places.

261 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 6:22:58pm
262 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 6:23:21pm
263 klys  Apr 1, 2014 6:24:26pm

If the dopefish from the north is still around, you might enjoy this.

264 EmmaAnne  Apr 1, 2014 6:24:26pm

re: #247 kirkspencer

For the long, see chapter eight of the federal sentencing guidelines.

For the short, fines. The minimum is to remedy the harms done by the organization. At the high end “… if the organization operated primarily for a criminal purpose or primarily by criminal means, the fine should be set sufficiently high to divest the organization of all its assets. “

This must be what’s called the corporate death penalty, huh?

265 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 6:24:33pm
266 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 1, 2014 6:24:53pm

re: #260 Kragar

What is the point of a check box that says “Remember my logon and password” if I still get prompted for my password all the time?

Not here, but some other places.

that’s because the login controls are all inside a < CantRememberShit > set of tags. That way it remembers it until you go someplace else, then when you come back, it’s all forgotten. This is probably not a true fact by the way.

RBS

267 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 6:25:00pm

Fox Imagines That Obama Is Letting Immigrant Rapists And Murderers Loose On The Streets (They’re Wrong)

I wish they’d make-up their minds.

268 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 6:25:18pm

re: #260 Kragar

What is the point of a check box that says “Remember my logon and password” if I still get prompted for my password all the time?

Not here, but some other places.

Did you purge your cache?

269 Varek Raith  Apr 1, 2014 6:25:54pm

7 foot waves in Iquique.

270 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 1, 2014 6:26:48pm

re: #268 FemNaziBitch

Did you purge your cache?

Maybe he cached his .wav?

RBS

271 Kragar  Apr 1, 2014 6:27:35pm

re: #268 FemNaziBitch

Did you purge your cache?

Nope, just griping. A site at work keeps doing it, and I realized Steam does the same thing when it loses a connection

272 Varek Raith  Apr 1, 2014 6:27:37pm

re: #270 RealityBasedSteve

Maybe he cached his .wav?

RBS

No. Just no.
:P

273 Charles Johnson  Apr 1, 2014 6:28:03pm
274 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 6:28:16pm

2010 earthquake video pops up. Derp. Twitter.

275 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 6:29:39pm
276 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 1, 2014 6:31:02pm

re: #271 Kragar

Nope, just griping. A site at work keeps doing it, and I realized Steam does the same thing when it loses a connection

The biggest problem I’ve had is that since I have about 4 different Microsoft accounts / logins it gets really really picky if I’m logged in on one acct, and then try to access another account. Worst case is it gets caught in some kind of a login loop, where it insists I have to log out, but only only the LOGIN button is available. If I do managed to get logged out, then I have to log in, but only the LOGOUT button is available.

ARRRGH….

RBS

277 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 6:33:09pm

re: #276 RealityBasedSteve

The biggest problem I’ve had is that since I have about 4 different Microsoft accounts / logins it gets really really picky if I’m logged in on one acct, and then try to access another account. Worst case is it gets caught in some kind of a login loop, where it insists I have to log out, but only only the LOGIN button is available. If I do managed to get logged out, then I have to log in, but only the LOGOUT button is available.

ARRRGH….

RBS

nice!

279 Romantic Heretic  Apr 1, 2014 6:34:46pm

re: #231 goddamnedfrank

The only thing cool about that guy is that he kind of looks like Matt Frewer.

I think he looks like someone with brain damage. That blank stare and what me worry smile? Creepy.

280 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 6:36:34pm
281 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 6:37:48pm
282 Political Atheist  Apr 1, 2014 6:38:14pm

re: #276 RealityBasedSteve

Worst case is it gets caught in some kind of a login loop, where it insists I have to log out, but only only the LOGIN button is available. If I do managed to get logged out, then I have to log in, but only the LOGOUT button is available.

ARRRGH….

RBS

You have to evaporate that tiny black hole you made in the server. Call Varek.

283 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 1, 2014 6:39:14pm

re: #278 Varek Raith

CNN Painstakingly Calculates It Could Take 2,995 Years To Find The Plane (VIDEO)

Lol CNN.

CNN on Tuesday brought on its severe weather expert to calculate how long it would take to search the ocean floor for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet.

The conclusion: it would take one ship 2,995 years “if you never stopped for fuel and you never stopped for new sailors.”

Assume a perfectly round ship on a perfectly flat frictionless ocean….

Just how low can CNN go at this point. It’s passed WorldNetDaily, and is rapidly moving into “before its true” category.

RBS

284 klys  Apr 1, 2014 6:41:06pm

Update from the PTWC:

A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR

CHILE / PERU / ECUADOR / COLOMBIA / PANAMA

A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR

COSTA RICA / NICARAGUA / EL SALVADOR / GUATEMALA / MEXICO /
HONDURAS

Hawaii is still just receiving informational statements. Looks like the highest wave heights they’ve reported so far are the 6.9ft closest to the epicenter.*

* Again, local variations that exceed this are possible, etc., etc.

285 Varek Raith  Apr 1, 2014 6:44:09pm

Even FoxNews is like, “WTF, CNN?”

286 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 6:44:54pm

re: #283 RealityBasedSteve

CNN on Tuesday brought on its severe weather expert to calculate how long it would take to search the ocean floor for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet.

The conclusion: it would take one ship 2,995 years “if you never stopped for fuel and you never stopped for new sailors.”

Assume a perfectly round ship on a perfectly flat frictionless ocean….

Just how low can CNN go at this point. It’s passed WorldNetDaily, and is rapidly moving into “before its true” category.

RBS

“Assume a spherical cow.”

… you know, it’s actually worth printing the whole joke instead of the punchline. Oddly it seems to fit.

The USDA once wanted to make cows produce milk faster, to improve the dairy industry.

So, they decided to consult the foremost biologists and recombinant DNA technicians to build them a better cow. They assembled this team of great scientists, and gave them unlimited funding. They requested rare chemicals, weird bacteria, tons of quarantine equipment, there was a horrible typhus epidemic they started by accident, and, 2 years later, they came back with the “new, improved cow.” It had a milk production improvement of 2% over the original.

They then tried with the greatest Nobel Prize winning chemists around. They worked for six months, and, after requisitioning tons of chemical equipment, and poisoning half the small town in Colorado where they were working with a toxic cloud from one of their experiments, they got a 5% improvement in milk output.

The physicists tried for a year, and, after ten thousand cows were subjected to radiation therapy, they got a 1% improvement in output.
Finally, in desperation, they turned to the mathematicians. The foremost mathematician of his time offered to help them with the problem. Upon hearing the problem, he told the delegation that they could come back in the morning and he would have solved the problem.

In the morning, they came back, and he handed them a piece of paper
with the computations for the new, 300% improved milk cow.
The plans began:

“A Proof of the Attainability of Increased Milk Output from Bovines: Consider a spherical cow……”

287 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 6:45:50pm

re: #283 RealityBasedSteve

CNN on Tuesday brought on its severe weather expert to calculate how long it would take to search the ocean floor for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet.

The conclusion: it would take one ship 2,995 years “if you never stopped for fuel and you never stopped for new sailors.”

Assume a perfectly round ship on a perfectly flat frictionless ocean….

Just how low can CNN go at this point. It’s passed WorldNetDaily, and is rapidly moving into “before its true” category.

RBS

When the history of the media coverage of disasters of the this decade is written, it will have a chapter entitled “MH 370: CNN Crashes The Clown Car.”

288 dog philosopher  Apr 1, 2014 6:46:51pm

re: #286 kirkspencer

is it a frictionless cow?

289 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 6:48:49pm

re: #286 kirkspencer

Interesting. The version of the “spherical cows” joke I vaguely remember had the physicists assuming a spherical cow.

In a way this makes sense, since mathematicians don’t need to make assumptions about anything as real-world and grubby as a cow.

E.g., the possibly apocryphal story about a mathematics textbook with “Let X be a separable Banach space.” as its first sentence.

290 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 6:50:19pm

re: #289 EPR-radar

Interesting. The version of the “spherical cows” joke I vaguely remember had the physicists assuming a spherical cow.

In a way this makes sense, since mathematicians don’t need to make assumptions about anything as real-world and grubby as a cow.

E.g., the possibly apocryphal story about a mathematics textbook with “Let X be a separable Banach space.” as its first sentence.

Yeah, physicists - particularly theoretical physicists - are the other favorite.

291 Mentis Fugit  Apr 1, 2014 6:53:48pm

re: #288 dog philosopher

is it a frictionless cow?

Not necessarily - it could be in a vacuum. Which might also help it assume a spherical shape.

292 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 6:54:11pm

Ugh, wingnuts are gonna be insufferable for at least a week now. Never seen a bigger bunch of babies, whining over how their dreams of Obamacare crashing and burning on Apr. 1st didn’t come true and making up all sorts of excuses for why they’re still “right” about it’s “failure.”

293 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 6:54:54pm

re: #291 Mentis Fugit

Not necessarily - it could be in a vacuum. Which might also help it assume a spherical shape.

Pink slime should assume a spherical shape by surface tension if it is weightless in space.

294 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 6:56:11pm

re: #288 dog philosopher

is it a frictionless cow?

Or a chocolate cow?

295 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 6:56:50pm

re: #292 Targetpractice

Ugh, wingnuts are gonna be insufferable for at least a week now. Never seen a bigger bunch of babies, whining over how their dreams of Obamacare crashing and burning on Apr. 1st didn’t come true and making up all sorts of excuses for why they’re still “right” about it’s “failure.”

When since Nov 2008 have the wingnuts not been insufferable?

296 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 6:57:02pm

re: #292 Targetpractice

Ugh, wingnuts are gonna be insufferable for at least a week now. Never seen a bigger bunch of babies, whining over how their dreams of Obamacare crashing and burning on Apr. 1st didn’t come true and making up all sorts of excuses for why they’re still “right” about it’s “failure.”

Sucks when your world view is wrong.

297 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 1, 2014 6:57:15pm

re: #293 EPR-radar

Pink slime should assume a spherical shape by surface tension if it is weightless in space.

Yea, but how are you going to Rick Scott into space to start with?

RBS

298 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 6:58:08pm

For the cow to retain its cowness it must remain a torus, not truly spherical.

299 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 6:59:07pm

re: #296 FemNaziBitch

Sucks when your world view is wrong.

Sucks less than it should if you can get enough votes for “your team” to be powerful enough to obstruct and to be within striking range of winning if the Democrats screw up.

300 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 6:59:08pm

re: #295 EPR-radar

When since Nov 2008 have the wingnuts not been insufferable?

Hell, you’re thinking too recent. They’ve been like this as far back as I can remember, but they’ve cranked it up to 11 since ‘08.

301 bratwurst  Apr 1, 2014 6:59:21pm

re: #259 FemNaziBitch

Earlier this evening I made this mistake of engaging an “Obamacare truther” on the MMFA comments section. Fortunately, I came to my senses. Life is not nearly long enough to waste a moment arguing with delusional assholes.

302 Belafon  Apr 1, 2014 6:59:42pm

Big Bang Theory: Spherical Chicken. Youtube Video

303 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 7:00:44pm

re: #296 FemNaziBitch

Sucks when your world view is wrong.

Hence why, like ‘12 with election polls, they’re descending deeper and deeper into their own little fantasy world where all 7m of those who’ve signed up previously had insurance, there’s no young people signing up so premiums are about to skyrocket, and the whole thing is a grand scheme to institute single-payer healthcare.

304 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 7:01:29pm

re: #300 Targetpractice

Hell, you’re thinking too recent. They’ve been like this as far back as I can remember, but they’ve cranked it up to 11 since ‘08.

Agree. See the ‘jokes’ about Chelsea Clinton or the wild slate of attacks on Hillary just for examples.

305 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 7:01:32pm

re: #298 jaunte

For the cow to retain its cowness it must remain a torus, not truly spherical.

Sure, get topological on us.

For that, I unleash the one and only mathematics joke I know:

Q: What’s yellow and undecidable?

A: Zorn’s lemon.

306 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 7:02:02pm

Proof! (of what, I do not know)

307 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 7:02:43pm

re: #240 EPR-radar

Normally, a civil judgement against a corporation doesn’t involve the owners/executives in personal liability. This protection is basically the whole point of a corporation.

However, criminal charges can pierce this shield.

If the state can prove a case against individual decision makers at PG&E that led to this explosion, those people are in for a rough ride.

Well I’m not optimistic. If a 1%’er can get off after raping a toddler, what’s gonna happen to execs who ignore some lame regulations?

308 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 7:03:14pm

re: #305 EPR-radar

Sure, get topological on us.

For that, I unleash the one and only mathematics joke I know:

Q: What’s yellow and undecidable?

A: Zorn’s lemon.

I know one about a dead spouse and Shroedinger’s cat.

309 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 7:03:46pm

re: #304 kirkspencer

Agree. See the ‘jokes’ about Chelsea Clinton or the wild slate of attacks on Hillary just for examples.

If Hillary gets the (D) nomination for 2016, the RWNJs really will crank up their phony outrage to 12. Hopefully they’ll start to choke on their own bile at some point.

310 Belafon  Apr 1, 2014 7:05:05pm

re: #301 bratwurst
I engaged the person mentioned here earlier. I refused to get caught in his “abortificant” discussion, but we ended up in a hypothetical discussion of a company offering a pool for purchasing food, where I told him that the company could not keep someone from participating just because they had food allergies. Don’t know if it changed his mind, but I haven’t gotten any more replies.

311 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 7:07:55pm

re: #307 Pie-onist Overlord

Well I’m not optimistic. If a 1%’er can get off after raping a toddler, what’s gonna happen to execs who ignore some lame regulations?

Neither am I. To make a criminal charge against a PG&E executive stick, the state will need something like a signed internal memo from that executive reading “to hell with pipeline safety, we have to cut costs”.

Executives don’t get to where they are by being stupid about the basics, so they are good at not creating anything damaging in writing.

312 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 7:08:47pm

re: #309 EPR-radar

If Hillary gets the (D) nomination for 2016, the RWNJs really will crank up their phony outrage to 12. Hopefully they’ll start to choke on their own bile at some point.

IF she gets the nomination, yes they will. I would be unsurprised to see it so wild it backfires.

313 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 7:09:40pm

re: #310 Belafon

I engaged there person mentioned here earlier. I refused to get caught in his “abortificant” discussion, but we ended up in a hypothetical discussion of a company offering a pool for purchasing food, where I told him that the company could not keep someone from participating just because they had food allergies. Don’t know if it changed his mind, but I haven’t gotten any more replies.

OMG, I read that timeline. What a freaking idiot.

314 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 7:10:39pm

Nun Reportedly Tells Students Masturbation, Divorced Parents Can Make Someone Gay

Sister Jane Dominic Laurel, a Dominican nun based in Nashville, Tenn., caused an uproar after speaking about homosexuality at Charlotte Catholic High School on March 21, the Charlotte Observer reports. Parents were not told about the assembly or the material being discussed, the outlet notes.

315 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 1, 2014 7:11:43pm

re: #311 EPR-radar

Neither am I. To make a criminal charge against a PG&E executive stick, the state will need something like a signed internal memo from that executive reading “to hell with pipeline safety, we have to cut costs”.

Executives don’t get to where they are by being stupid about the basics, so they are good at not creating anything damaging in writing.

They can put some pretty damn dumb stuff in writing.

Oh and look here, MSNBC didn’t even black out the perp’s name.

316 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 7:15:30pm


……………..

From Fox News Insider. I’m not sure that labeling your story ‘viral’ does anything to magically make it go viral.

…………….

……………
Was there a question?.

317 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 7:16:13pm

re: #314 FemNaziBitch

Nun Reportedly Tells Students Masturbation, Divorced Parents Can Make Someone Gay

Masturbation can lead to homosexuality? If that were true, heterosexuals would be the minority.

318 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 1, 2014 7:17:53pm

re: #317 Targetpractice

Masturbation can lead to homosexuality? If that were true, heterosexuals would be the minority.

Can I do it just until I have the ability to accessorize?

RBS

319 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 7:17:56pm

re: #317 Targetpractice

Masturbation can lead to homosexuality? If that were true, heterosexuals would be the minority.

Obviously a person who has no real world experience.

320 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 7:19:00pm

re: #318 RealityBasedSteve

Can I do it just until I have the ability to accessorize?

RBS

And all these years, I thought the worst I had to worry about was hair on my palms and going blind.

321 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 7:19:16pm
322 EPR-radar  Apr 1, 2014 7:19:46pm

re: #315 Pie-onist Overlord

They can put some pretty damn dumb stuff in writing.

Oh and look here, MSNBC didn’t even black out the perp’s name.

It will be interesting to see what comes of the GM ignition switch mess. However, just signing off on the part isn’t damning enough to really get a GM lawsuit party started.

The holy grail there would be orders from corporate HQ to engineering to bless the switch despite knowing it had problems.

323 Amory Blaine  Apr 1, 2014 7:20:33pm

re: #181 Pie-onist Overlord

I operated the business end of a grub ax for a decade and I’ll tell you it’s a lot harder to use than a chainsaw.

324 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 7:20:53pm

re: #316 jaunte

[Embedded image]
……………..

From Fox News Insider. I’m not sure that labeling your story ‘viral’ does anything to magically make it go viral.

…………….

[Embedded image]

……………
Was there a question?.

Apparently not. Seems Sebelius was waiting for a question that never came.

325 Belafon  Apr 1, 2014 7:21:25pm

re: #313 Pie-onist Overlord

To me, he kept sounding like the typical “I’m male and don’t need any of this extra crap so why should I pay for it.” As a male who has managed to evolve beyond that viewpoint - she earned it, it’s not my decision, helping pay for these makes health care and society costs cheaper - I really don’t quite understand why they think that way, other than just thinking they’re still self centered children (I’m still a kid at times, but I at least share my toys).

326 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 7:22:57pm

re: #315 Pie-onist Overlord

They can put some pretty damn dumb stuff in writing.

Oh and look here, MSNBC didn’t even black out the perp’s name.

Well, that’s Government Motors for you! They couldn’t have real executives because such valiant capitalists were blocked by the Communist Unions!

327 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 1, 2014 7:24:03pm

Night Gang… Didn’t sleep at all well last night, so I’m about ready to shut down. Catch ya later…

RBS

328 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 7:26:01pm
329 Lidane  Apr 1, 2014 7:27:50pm

Constitutional scholar, y’all —

330 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 7:29:16pm

re: #329 Lidane

Constitutional scholar, y’all —

[Embedded content]

[Embedded image]

331 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 7:32:47pm

re: #329 Lidane

Gohmert pointed out that a Congressional Research Service report revealed that President Thomas Jefferson, who coined the phrase “separation of church and state,” had also attended church services at Statuary Hall.

“But it was to be a one-way wall, where the state would not dictate to the church,” the Texas Republican insisted. “But the church would certainly play a role in the state.”

There are a lot of those “one-way wall” theories going around lately.

332 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 7:34:09pm

“Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no faith, undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of an established religion tends to make the clergy unresponsive to their own people, and leads to corruption within religion itself. Erecting the ‘wall of separation between church and state,’ therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.”
― Thomas Jefferson

333 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 7:37:14pm

re: #329 Lidane

Constitutional scholar, y’all —

[Embedded content]

[Embedded image]

I was going to say something more ‘questioning’, but I just can’t. I truly despise Louis Gohmert for saying that. I can’t see how his saying this could be anything other than an attempt by him to score the circle of being a Dominionist while claiming to be a patriot. Those two things cannot be reconciled, since a patriot must ultimately accept that the Founders did not want churches to have a direct role in the government. They sought to keep church and state separate for the protection of both.

Louis Gohmert is a lying shit. End Story.

334 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 1, 2014 7:49:10pm

re: #333 Dark_Falcon

Louis Gohmert is a lying shit. End Story.

“There never was a union of church and state which did not bring serious evils to religion.”
The Right Reverend John England, first Roman Catholic Bishop of Charleston SC, 1825.

335 Lidane  Apr 1, 2014 7:50:02pm

Didn’t we just go through this shit in Arizona? WTF.

I’m glad to see that the poorest state in the country has their priorities in order.

//////////////////////

336 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 7:51:02pm

re: #334 William Barnett-Lewis

“There never was a union of church and state which did not bring serious evils to religion.”
The Right Reverend John England, first Roman Catholic Bishop of Charleston SC, 1825.

This, This, and a hundred more times This.

337 Belafon  Apr 1, 2014 7:51:41pm

re: #335 Lidane

How else are lawyers going to get paid, other than having Republicans directy hand them state money to defend an unconstitutional law.

338 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 7:54:06pm

re: #332 Targetpractice

“Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no faith, undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of an established religion tends to make the clergy unresponsive to their own people, and leads to corruption within religion itself. Erecting the ‘wall of separation between church and state,’ therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.”
― Thomas Jefferson

sorry, but faux quote. It’s actually a summary of Jefferson’s position as written by Eyler Robert Coates (the creator/maintainer of UVA’s collections of Jefferson’s writings).

339 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 7:55:24pm
340 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 7:55:29pm

re: #338 kirkspencer

sorry, but faux quote. It’s actually a summary of Jefferson’s position as written by Eyler Robert Coates (the creator/maintainer of UVA’s collections of Jefferson’s writings).

Right, my bad.

341 Ming  Apr 1, 2014 7:57:27pm

re: #332 Targetpractice

“Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no faith, undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of an established religion tends to make the clergy unresponsive to their own people, and leads to corruption within religion itself. Erecting the ‘wall of separation between church and state,’ therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.”
― Thomas Jefferson

Wow. As bad as he was to own slaves, it’s amazing what a great contribution Jefferson made.

I always focus on the “wall of separation”, but today, for the first time, I notice that middle sentence, that when the state supports a religion, that very support can deeply damage the integrity of the religion itself. Again, wow.

342 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 7:59:08pm

re: #339 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Reminder to Russia: We have nukes too.

Not that I expect Putin to actually pull anything where US territory is concerned. He’s crazy like a fox, not batcrap insane.

343 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 7:59:30pm

re: #335 Lidane

Didn’t we just go through this shit in Arizona? WTF.

[Embedded content]

I’m glad to see that the poorest state in the country has their priorities in order.

//////////////////////

I really wish they’d drop the bullshit and just call it what it is: Enshrining bigotry in the law.

344 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 8:00:59pm

re: #342 Dark_Falcon

Reminder to Russia: We have nukes too.

Not that I expect Putin to actually pull anything where US territory is concerned. He’s crazy like a fox, not batcrap insane.

I hope you are right. Lately he seems to not care what anyone else thinks. Let’s hope he doesn’t think he’s invincible.

345 austin_blue  Apr 1, 2014 8:01:00pm

Wow. Big rupture in Chile at 8.2.

Checking…

346 Ming  Apr 1, 2014 8:07:24pm

re: #334 William Barnett-Lewis

“There never was a union of church and state which did not bring serious evils to religion.”
The Right Reverend John England, first Roman Catholic Bishop of Charleston SC, 1825.

A few years ago, I read some speculation that a big reason religion has been relatively successful and widespread in the US, compared with England, was that England had a state religion (the Anglican Church), while America did not. The point was that America’s LACK of state support for religion allowed a diversity of religions to freely flourish.

347 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 8:07:29pm

re: #329 Lidane

Constitutional scholar, y’all —

[Embedded content]

[Embedded image]

348 Political Atheist  Apr 1, 2014 8:09:38pm

re: #339 NJDhockeyfan

“”I’m sorry that region is full of ethnic Not Freaking Russians, your argument is invalid”’

349 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 8:10:30pm

350 austin_blue  Apr 1, 2014 8:10:50pm

Well this isn’t good:

(from the USGS)

“The April 1 earthquake occurred in a region of historic seismic quiescence - termed the northern Chile or Iquique seismic gap. Historical records indicate a M 8.8 earthquake occurred within the Iquique gap in 1877, which was preceded immediately to the north by an M 8.8 earthquake in 1868.”

So there is a possibility of a lot of stored energy in a geologic milieu (ocean plate subduction under a continental plate) not dissimilar to that off the east coast of Japan a couple of years back.

The Galapagos are first in the bullseye, if anything is going to come of this.

351 Ming  Apr 1, 2014 8:12:29pm

re: #342 Dark_Falcon

Not that I expect Putin to actually pull anything where US territory is concerned. He’s crazy like a fox, not batcrap insane.

Of course, not US territory. Not Poland. Still, other parts of Ukraine, and Russian-speaking areas (e.g. within Estonia) may be a concern. I still find it astonishing that we’re actually thinking about this, that Crimea actually happened.

352 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 8:12:38pm

re: #344 NJDhockeyfan

I hope you are right. Lately he seems to not care what anyone else thinks. Let’s hope he doesn’t think he’s invincible.

He’s been careful so far, and I seriously doubt he’d ever let his success get to his head THAT much. That petition is just DERPage.

In NHL news, the Blackhawks lost all three games of their road trip but still made the playoffs. Hopefully we get Kane and Towes back in time. Your Devils still have an outside chance to get in as well, NJDHF, so keep the faith. Hopefully the Blackhawks can give the Devils some help by beating the Bluejackets and the Capitals.

Also, good for New Jersey is having to face Boston in the final game. Boston is an overall better team, but having already won its division and likely to lock up the number 1 conference seed before then, the Bruins will likely just phone the game in.

353 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 8:12:50pm

Ah, delicious tears.

354 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 8:14:35pm

re: #346 Ming

A few years ago, I read some speculation that a big reason religion has been relatively successful and widespread in the US, compared with England, was that England had a state religion (the Anglican Church), while America did not. The point was that America’s LACK of state support for religion allowed a diversity of religions to freely flourish.

It’s not speculation. Membership in the Church of England was not an option for citizens. Tithing and attendence at church was mandated. The church was the only form of social services and they did need money to feed the poor etc. The King was the head of the Church of England (as Queen Elizabeth is today). Thus, anything clerics declared had the weight of the government behind hit.

Our Founders disliked being told what to do and really, really disliked any form of tax, whether it be to the Crown or the Church.

They also saw the corruption and political power structure of the Crown and The Church and didn’t like it.

355 Ming  Apr 1, 2014 8:16:31pm

re: #349 FemNaziBitch

Well said. I’m always impressed that this is the one and only Amendment that the Founders inserted BEFORE the Second Amendment — and the Second Amendment was important for the physical survival of our young country, in those years after the Revolution and before the War of 1812.

The Founders knew what religion could do to their precious new country, and they met the enemy head-on.

356 kirkspencer  Apr 1, 2014 8:16:36pm

re: #350 austin_blue

Well this isn’t good:

(from the USGS)

“The April 1 earthquake occurred in a region of historic seismic quiescence - termed the northern Chile or Iquique seismic gap. Historical records indicate a M 8.8 earthquake occurred within the Iquique gap in 1877, which was preceded immediately to the north by an M 8.8 earthquake in 1868.”

So there is a possibility of a lot of stored energy in a geologic milieu (ocean plate subduction under a continental plate) not dissimilar to that off the east coast of Japan a couple of years back.

The Galapagos are first in the bullseye, if anything is going to come of this.

Read upthread. And no the Galapagos aren’t first in the bullseye. Chile and Peru were first. So far maximum height has been under 7 feet.

357 The Ghost of a Flea  Apr 1, 2014 8:17:38pm

What with the weird winter and it being April 1st, I can’t help but wonder how the spaghetti harvest in Switzerland is doing.

Youtube Video

358 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 8:18:45pm

re: #127 jaunte

[Embedded image]

The right’s day-after freakout: Conservatives fail to grapple with new Obamacare reality

Didn’t we see this same movie back in November 2012? Disappointed, freaked out conservatives unable to come to grips with math.

359 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 8:19:06pm

Pak-40 German 75mm AT Gun Firing

Youtube Video

This is a pretty cool video that goes into a good bit detail regarding this WWII German anti-tank gun. It’s not pro-Nazi or anything like that and its not “gun funking” either. It’s just good, clean, fun.

360 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 8:21:34pm

Yikes!

361 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 8:22:36pm

re: #355 Ming

Well said. I’m always impressed that this is the one and only Amendment that the Founders inserted BEFORE the Second Amendment — and the Second Amendment was important for the physical survival of our young country, in those years after the Revolution and before the War of 1812.

The Founders knew what religion could do to their precious new country, and they met the enemy head-on.

They knew what mandated religion could do. They respected the rights of a free citizenry to make their own religious decisions and wanted to ensure that the federal government would be prohibited from imposing itself upon the citizens in that regard.

Remember that the 1st Amendment contains not only the Separation of Church and State Clause but also the Free Exercise of Religion Clause as well.

362 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 8:24:22pm
363 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 8:26:57pm

re: #181 Pie-onist Overlord

Wingnuts are so dumb. THEY’RE ALL PHOTO OPS U FREAKING MORONS. Reagan & W DID NOT CHOP WOOD, idiots.

[Embedded content]

OK, let’s recap the three photos.

1) Reagan clearly doesn’t know how to use a chainsaw. He’s lucky he didn’t slip and saw his own leg off.

2) W is just carrying pieces of wood. Like I do 3 times a year when it’s cold enough in LA to use the fireplace.

3) Obama is using a pick ax to dig a hole, to plant a garden. Where food will actually grow and get eaten.

So Obama looks the LEAST tough of the three, but easily the MOST pragmatic and intelligent. I’ll take that over mindless macho posturing anyway, anyhow, anywhere.

364 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 8:29:55pm

re: #359 Dark_Falcon

That reminds me; I just finished reading this:
amazon.com
Well worth the time if you haven’t yet.

365 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 8:31:10pm

re: #364 jaunte

That reminds me; I just finished reading this:
amazon.com
Well worth the time if you haven’t yet.

Thank you.

366 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 8:32:18pm

re: #358 palomino

Didn’t we see this same movie back in November 2012? Disappointed, freaked out conservatives unable to come to grips with math.

Before that. Remember, they spent most of early 2012 convinced that Obamacare was so unpopular, and thus the president so unpopular, that they could have run a dead cat against him and been guaranteed a landslide victory. But when the first post-convention polls came out and showed that Romney was floundering, they got to the point they’re at now: Trying to skew the numbers to match their fantasies. There’s just no way they could have been so wrong, obviously the people producing the numbers have an agenda.

367 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 8:35:16pm

re: #363 palomino

OK, let’s recap the three photos.

1) Reagan clearly doesn’t know how to use a chainsaw. He’s lucky he didn’t slip and saw his own leg off.

2) W is just carrying pieces of wood. Like I do 3 times a year when it’s cold enough in LA to use the fireplace.

3) Obama is using a pick ax to dig a hole, to plant a garden. Where food will actually grow and get eaten.

So Obama looks the LEAST tough of the three, but easily the MOST pragmatic and intelligent. I’ll take that over mindless macho posturing anyway, anyhow, anywhere.

I’d disagree with Alouette, though: George W. Bush did and likely still does chop wood. Perhaps he does so to stay humble, perhaps because the exertion calms him. But he actually did and does chop wood, and the photos of him doing so aren’t just posturing. Neither are the photos of Obama gardening.

368 Gus  Apr 1, 2014 8:35:51pm

Tsunami warnings are just about over.

369 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 8:36:27pm

Bat Soup Blamed as Deadly Ebola Virus Spreads

“People must even avoid consumption of rats and monkeys.”

Last warning, people.

370 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 8:40:07pm

re: #366 Targetpractice

Before that. Remember, they spent most of early 2012 convinced that Obamacare was so unpopular, and thus the president so unpopular, that they could have run a dead cat against him and been guaranteed a landslide victory. But when the first post-convention polls came out and showed that Romney was floundering, they got to the point they’re at now: Trying to skew the numbers to match their fantasies. There’s just no way they could have been so wrong, obviously the people producing the numbers have an agenda.

It’s one thing when George Will or Krauthammer get the numbers wrong. That’s not their strength, and on TV they have an agenda to pull for the home team and make other righties happy.

But it’s hard to imagine that smart statisticians like Rove and Luntz could have fallen for the “Romney in a landslide” prediction. On the other hand, I don’t think Rove’s meltdown over Ohio was an act. He seemed sincerely shocked that Obama was not going to just win, but win pretty easily.

371 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 8:42:08pm

re: #369 jaunte

Bat Soup Blamed as Deadly Ebola Virus Spreads

Last warning, people.

Damn, I guess my monkey brain stew is not on the menu tomorrow night.

372 jaunte  Apr 1, 2014 8:43:33pm

re: #371 NJDhockeyfan

The flying mammals are reservoirs for more than 60 viruses that can infect humans, and host more viruses per species than even rodents.

Maybe I’ll stop walking under the bat bridges so often.

373 klys  Apr 1, 2014 8:45:13pm

re: #350 austin_blue

I’ve found some excellent documentaries on YouTube from NHK World about the Japan quake, and why it may have been so much larger than expected. If you’re interested, I can dig through my history and find them. One even had genuinely new-to-me info about what they called “slow quakes”, which were a more prolonged fault movement that they believe may have contributed to the magnitude/intensity of this quake (and from a tsunamigenic point of view, the uplift associated with the water displacement). I haven’t dug out the relevant scientific papers yet (in my free time, hah, and this is so not my area of expertise) but …

The Japan quake was definitely interesting because it was substantially higher than the magnitude they had said it was capable of; only later, after observing the deposits left from the 2011 quake did they really understand what was left by the quake in …I want to say 867, but this is off the top of my head. Although that region had produced quakes in the 7.0-ish region before (with associated tsunami), there wasn’t much support past that (ignoring folk history and tsunami markers left far up on hills, which were generally disregarded).

I definitely have some poking to do regarding the faults off Chile; that’s an area I know less about. Of course there are the big classic quakes there, but I haven’t done substantive looking into the geologic history.

Per the PTWC, pretty much everywhere that is not Chile/Peru has been given the all-clear on tsunami.

374 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 8:48:16pm

re: #370 palomino

It’s one thing when George Will or Krauthammer get the numbers wrong. That’s not their strength, and on TV they have an agenda to pull for the home team and make other righties happy.

But it’s hard to imagine that smart statisticians like Rove and Luntz could have fallen for the “Romney in a landslide” prediction. On the other hand, I don’t think Rove’s meltdown over Ohio was an act. He seemed sincerely shocked that Obama was not going to just win, but win pretty easily.

I’ve no doubt that Rove honestly was shocked by how big a margin of victory the President managed. I compare it to the feeling that people got watching the last Superbowl, where odds makers had the whole game being a close match with a thin margin of victory and the victor being decided within the final minutes of the game. Instead, by the time the evening was over, everybody who’d bet on a close game and a nail-biter ending was left wondering how they’d so badly predicted the final result.

Of course, the day after, the unskewed crowd started making up excuses again. Now the vote was rigged, counties were reporting more votes than voters, and all the usual whines about “voter fraud” that amounted to sour grapes.

375 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 8:49:30pm

re: #367 Dark_Falcon

I’d disagree with Alouette, though: George W. Bush did and likely still does chop wood. Perhaps he does so to stay humble, perhaps because the exertion calms him. But he actually did and does chop wood, and the photos of him doing so aren’t just posturing. Neither are the photos of Obama gardening.

Come on, these are ALL photo ops. You must know that.

Bush, Reagan and Obama didn’t just happen to be doing their daily mesquite clearing/pretending to be a lumberjack/gardening in a suit, when a photographer randomly showed up.

These are all staged, the photogs already there, the president ready to do a minute of manual labor to suggest something to the public about him that has a kernel of truth, but nothing more.

And so what if Bush really does chop wood? Or Obama shoots hoops? Or Reagan conducted seances? Everybody needs a hobby, but they’re all pretty much irrelevant in terms of being president.

376 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 8:51:37pm

re: #375 palomino

Come on, these are ALL photo ops. You must know that.

Bush, Reagan and Obama didn’t just happen to be doing their daily mesquite clearing/pretending to be a lumberjack/gardening in a suit, when a photographer randomly showed up.

These are all staged, the photogs already there, the president ready to do a minute of manual labor to suggest something to the public about him that has a kernel of truth, but nothing more.

And so what if Bush really does chop wood? Or Obama shoots hoops? Or Reagan conducted seances? Everybody needs a hobby, but they’re all pretty much irrelevant in terms of being president.

Reagan conducted seances? Really?

377 Killgore Trout  Apr 1, 2014 8:54:07pm

re: #376 NJDhockeyfan

Reagan conducted seances? Really?

I think that was Nancy.

378 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 8:54:39pm
379 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 8:54:46pm

re: #374 Targetpractice

I’ve no doubt that Rove honestly was shocked by how big a margin of victory the President managed. I compare it to the feeling that people got watching the last Superbowl, where odds makers had the whole game being a close match with a thin margin of victory and the victor being decided within the final minutes of the game. Instead, by the time the evening was over, everybody who’d bet on a close game and a nail-biter ending was left wondering how they’d so badly predicted the final result.

Of course, the day after, the unskewed crowd started making up excuses again. Now the vote was rigged, counties were reporting more votes than voters, and all the usual whines about “voter fraud” that amounted to sour grapes.

That’s one reason the margins of victory were important, especially the 10 million vote win over McCain the first time.

Obama won by so many votes that any contention he stole the election was a bridge too far, even for most conservatives. It never even gained the kind of traction that the birther idiocy did.

380 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 8:56:19pm

re: #377 Killgore Trout

I think that was Nancy.

She talked to an astrologer but never did a seance.

381 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 8:57:59pm

re: #376 NJDhockeyfan

Reagan conducted seances? Really?

He and Nancy were both believers in astrology. On occasion they actually consulted astrological charts to help with decision making. Strange and scary, but yes, really true.

382 Killgore Trout  Apr 1, 2014 8:58:28pm

re: #378 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Must be part of that troop withdrawal we heard so much about yesterday.

383 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 9:03:59pm

re: #378 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Two other photos there. They show that these T-72Bs are fitted with 1st generation Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks, instead of the 2nd Generation plates of that other company of T-72Bs we saw video footage of last week. The tank in the back group of this photo has the 2nd Gen plates:

384 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 9:04:37pm

re: #381 palomino

He and Nancy were both believers in astrology. On occasion they actually consulted astrological charts to help with decision making. Strange and scary, but yes, really true.

Nancy was the one who saw an astrologist, not both of them. She did that after he was shot.

I have not read anywhere that either one of them conducted seances. Where do you read about that, Infowars?

385 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 9:05:22pm

re: #380 NJDhockeyfan

She talked to an astrologer but never did a seance.

She consulted more than one astrologer, over nearly Reagan’s entire presidency. Here’s Reagan’s Sec of Treasury (and later his chief of staff) on the issue: Virtually every major move and decision the Reagans made during my time as White House Chief of Staff was cleared in advance with a woman in San Francisco [Quiqley] who drew up horoscopes to make certain that the planets were in a favorable alignment for the enterprise.

That’s some crazy stuff there.

386 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 9:05:56pm

re: #382 Killgore Trout

Must be part of that troop withdrawal we heard so much about yesterday.

Yeah, more like withdrawn from Russia and into Crimea.

387 Killgore Trout  Apr 1, 2014 9:08:45pm

re: #383 Dark_Falcon

Two other photos there. They show that these T-72Bs are fitted with 1st generation Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks, instead of the 2nd Generation plates of that other company of T-72Bs we saw video footage of last week. The tank in the back group of this photo has the 2nd Gen plates:

[Embedded content]

Speaking of tanks
A Syrian Sunni Arab tank hunter gets a hit on the turret of assad regime T-55, with HJ-8 ATGM
Liveleak Video
Looks like the rocket’s travel time gave the crew just enough time to make it out.

388 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 9:08:56pm

re: #384 NJDhockeyfan

Nancy was the one who saw an astrologist, not both of them. She did that after he was shot.

I have not read anywhere that either one of them conducted seances. Where do you read about that, Infowars?

No, it’s from Donald Regan’s memoirs. He was Sec. of Treasury and Reagan’s chief of staff. And he doesn’t lay all the blame on Nancy, he says Ronny was into it as well.

I doubt if you’ll apologize for accusing me of quoting Infowars, but you should.

389 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 9:09:38pm

This pic from last week, though:

The Crimean Incursion is udderly mad.

390 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 9:13:33pm

re: #388 palomino

No, it’s from Donald Regan’s memoirs. He was Sec. of Treasury and Reagan’s chief of staff. And he doesn’t lay all the blame on Nancy, he says Ronny was into it as well.

I doubt if you’ll apologize for accusing me of quoting Infowars, but you should.

He said they conducted seances?

391 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 9:13:38pm

re: #377 Killgore Trout

I think that was Nancy.

She got into astrology first, but Ronnie dug it too.

It was actually a major scandal in 1988. The Reagans first disavowed it. Then they admitted it, and said they wouldn’t do it anymore. Even though they had already been doing it for 7 years.

392 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 9:13:44pm

re: #387 Killgore Trout

Speaking of tanks
A Syrian Sunni Arab tank hunter gets a hit on the turret of assad regime T-55, with HJ-8 ATGM
[Embedded content]

Looks like the rocket’s travel time gave the crew just enough time to make it out.

No surprise: The HJ-8 is a 1980’s vintage missile being used against a 1950s tank design. Even with armor upgrades, the T-55 would stand much of a chance without ERA. And if hit from the side it would stand no chance at all.

393 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 9:14:51pm

re: #390 NJDhockeyfan

He said they conducted seances?

Yes. But MUCH more importantly, he said,

“Virtually every major move and decision the Reagans made during my time as White House Chief of Staff was cleared in advance with a woman in San Francisco [Quiqley] who drew up horoscopes to make certain that the planets were in a favorable alignment for the enterprise.”

394 Lidane  Apr 1, 2014 9:16:05pm

Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD had a great episode tonight. They clearly tied the events in the show to the upcoming Captain America film, and if what I’m hearing in reviews from folks who’ve seen it early, EVERYTHING changes in that film. The whole Marvel world gets reset.

Can’t wait to see where things go from here. I have high hopes for the rest of the season.

395 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 9:19:05pm

re: #394 Lidane

Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD had a great episode tonight. They clearly tied the events in the show to the upcoming Captain America film, and if what I’m hearing in reviews from folks who’ve seen it early, EVERYTHING changes in that film. The whole Marvel world gets reset.

Can’t wait to see where things go from here. I have high hopes for the rest of the season.

How would you say “reset”? Are they going for a darker-and-edgier tone to the upcoming movies, as the previews seem to indicate?

396 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 9:22:23pm

re: #393 palomino

Yes. But MUCH more importantly, he said,

Yes, I know about the astrology. There is no secret about that. She was scared for her husbands safety after he was shot and consulted an astrologer. That was weird. I didn’t know they were doing seances. Now that is something I want to hear about.
Did those take place in the Oval Office? Did they turn off the lights and burn candles? Were they able to make the table rise? Curious minds want to know!

397 Lidane  Apr 1, 2014 9:23:49pm

re: #395 Targetpractice

How would you say “reset”? Are they going for a darker-and-edgier tone to the upcoming movies, as the previews seem to indicate?

Reset in terms of the landscape of the Marvel cinematic world being completely different by the time the film ends. I’ve read some reviews that suggest that the Captain America film is a total game changer.

398 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 9:25:16pm

re: #394 Lidane

Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD had a great episode tonight. They clearly tied the events in the show to the upcoming Captain America film, and if what I’m hearing in reviews from folks who’ve seen it early, EVERYTHING changes in that film. The whole Marvel world gets reset.

Can’t wait to see where things go from here. I have high hopes for the rest of the season.

I saw it too and it WAS great. It raises a series of interesting questions, too:

Is the cybertech used by Deathlok the same as that used by the Winter Soldier? Is Saffron Burrows character working against SHIELD behalf of the same people who are pulling the Winter Soldier’s strings? If so, where does the Clairvoyant fit into the plot?

399 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 9:25:21pm

re: #396 NJDhockeyfan

Yes, I know about the astrology. There is no secret about that. She was scared of he husbands safety after he was shot and consulted an astrologer. That was weird. I didn’t know they were doing seances. Now that is something I want to hear about.
Did those take place in the Oval Office? Did they turn off the lights and burn candles? Were they able to make the table rise? Curious minds want to know!

You’ll have to read Donald Regan’s book for the details.

But it’s strange that you think a seance is a bridge too far, while this:

Virtually every major move and decision the Reagans made during my time as White House Chief of Staff was cleared in advance with a woman in San Francisco [Quiqley] who drew up horoscopes to make certain that the planets were in a favorable alignment for the enterprise.

doesn’t seem to be weird enough for you. It’s already really fucking weird. And not something the public would accept in any president. Fortunately for the Reagans, the story didn’t come out until 1988. By that point, everyone knew Reagan had advancing Alzheimer’s, and was about to leave office anyway. So it wasn’t as big a story as it might have been.

400 Lidane  Apr 1, 2014 9:27:30pm

re: #398 Dark_Falcon

I saw it too and it WAS great. It raises a series of interesting questions, too:

[Embedded content]

It’s Captain America, so I’m wondering if HYDRA is involved somehow. And I’m convinced that whoever is pulling the strings for Deathlok is also working with Victoria Hand. I don’t trust her at all.

401 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 9:28:11pm

Also I can say without giving anything away that it is very much like Joss Weldon to bring in J. August Richards to portray Deathlok. Like JJ Abrams and Quintin Tarantino, Weldon very much has a group of favored actors and actresses. And Weldon’s choices of where to use those favored people tend to be spot on.

402 Ming  Apr 1, 2014 9:28:34pm

re: #385 palomino

She consulted more than one astrologer, over nearly Reagan’s entire presidency. Here’s Reagan’s Sec of Treasury (and later his chief of staff) on the issue: Virtually every major move and decision the Reagans made during my time as White House Chief of Staff was cleared in advance with a woman in San Francisco [Quiqley] who drew up horoscopes to make certain that the planets were in a favorable alignment for the enterprise.

That’s some crazy stuff there.

In the last year or so of Reagan’s second term, his and Nancy’s involvement with astrology was all over the news. It was blamed for why Reagan was so late in admitting anything about Iran-Contra.

As I recall, Reagan really wanted to go public, apologize, clear the whole thing up, and move on. That was his instinct, and it doesn’t surprise me; I’ve always seen him as a very decent man, despite my disagreements with his policies. But Nancy told him to hold off on that, because that’s what their astrologer advised.

403 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 9:30:13pm

re: #402 Ming

In the last year or so of Reagan’s second term, his and Nancy’s involvement with astrology was all over the news. It was blamed for why Reagan was so late in admitting anything about Iran-Contra.

As I recall, Reagan really wanted to go public, apologize, clear the whole thing up, and move on. That was his instinct, and it doesn’t surprise me; I’ve always seen him as a very decent man, despite my disagreements with his policies. But Nancy told him to hold off on that, because that’s what their astrologer advised.

Part of the president’s job is to say NO when his wife suggests crazy shit.

404 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 9:31:16pm

re: #399 palomino

You’ll have to read Donald Regan’s book for the details.

But it’s strange that you think a seance is a bridge too far, while this:

doesn’t seem to be weird enough for you.

Yes, I know about the astrology. Tell me about the seances. I really want to know. I searched google and couldn’t find anything.

405 Targetpractice  Apr 1, 2014 9:34:37pm

re: #400 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Well, the cast list for The Avengers: Age of Ultron includes Thomas Kretschmann as Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, who’s one of the leaders of HYDRA in the comics. So yeah, I’d say they’re somehow involved.

406 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 9:34:58pm

re: #404 NJDhockeyfan

Yes, I know about the astrology. Tell me about the seances. I really want to know. I searched google and couldn’t find anything.

Search harder.

Or buy Donald Regan’s book. I don’t have it on me.

Why does a seance seem so much weirder to you than this?

Virtually every major move and decision the Reagans made during my time as White House Chief of Staff was cleared in advance with a woman in San Francisco [Quiqley] who drew up horoscopes to make certain that the planets were in a favorable alignment for the enterprise.

It’s already so completely fucked up for a president and his wife to conduct the nation’s business based on superstitions. Seems like no one would have a problem denouncing that.

407 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 9:42:29pm

re: #406 palomino

Search harder.

Or buy Donald Regan’s book. I don’t have it on me.

Why does a seance seem so much weirder to you than this?

It’s already so completely fucked up for a president and his wife to conduct the nation’s business based on superstitions. Seems like no one would have a problem denouncing that.

All I could find about First Ladies and seances was this:

…In his 1996 book, “The Choice,” Washington Post editor and writer Bob Woodward said that as first lady, Sen. Hillary Clinton had seance-like sessions at the White House during which she conversed with late first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. At the time, the White House said the sessions were not seances.

Abraham Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, was rumored to have held seances at the White House in order to contact her two dead sons, Eddie and Willie. She also reportedly went to seances under an assumed name after the president’s death to attempt to contact him.

I wonder if performing seances in the White House qualifies you for POTUS?

408 Dark_Falcon  Apr 1, 2014 9:47:48pm

Good night, All. I’ve got some tests for insurance licensing tomorrow, so wish me luck.

409 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 9:50:21pm

re: #407 NJDhockeyfan

All I could find about First Ladies and seances was this:

I wonder if performing seances in the White House qualifies you for POTUS?

A seance itself isn’t that bizarre. What’s bizarre and disturbing is using a seance, a horoscope, an astrologer, or whatever, to make WH decisions.

Millions of people have participated in seances, although most leave disappointed because they didn’t get in touch with dead Uncle Joe (or whoever they’re looking for).

Hillary Clinton supposedly had a seance in the 90’s in the WH to speak with Eleanor Roosevelt’s ghost.

I might vote for Hillary 2016, but not if there’s any indication she plans to use seances, tea leaves, horoscopes, coin flipping, or any other superstitious crap in her decisionmaking as C-in-C.

410 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 10:02:14pm

re: #409 palomino

Hillary Clinton supposedly had a seance in the 90’s in the WH to speak with Eleanor Roosevelt’s ghost.

I might vote for Hillary 2016, but not if there’s any indication she plans to use seances, tea leaves, horoscopes, coin flipping, or any other superstitious crap in her decisionmaking as C-in-C.

There is no way to find out, is there? For all we know she might spend hours taking to Eleanor’s ghost for guidance or she might not do anything at all.

411 FemNaziBitch  Apr 1, 2014 10:04:56pm

nytol

412 palomino  Apr 1, 2014 10:14:13pm

re: #410 NJDhockeyfan

There is no way to find out, is there? For all we know she might spend hours taking to Eleanor’s ghost for guidance or she might not do anything at all.

Exactly. BUT if reliable info proved she based her decisions on such nonsense, there’s no way I could vote for her in good conscience. A president needs to be logical and rational above all else.

413 Ming  Apr 1, 2014 10:16:59pm

re: #409 palomino

A seance itself isn’t that bizarre. What’s bizarre and disturbing is using a seance, a horoscope, an astrologer, or whatever, to make WH decisions.

It’s very bizarre and very disturbing.

In theory, I would hope that our system of checks and balances in government, combined with a tolerant society, would reduce the probability that a President would do his or her job with one eye on the astrology charts, or the Bible, or the books about the Greek Gods, or whatever.

In practice, I’m not that optimistic. Superstition is surprisingly resilient. It doesn’t help that we’re in an age of weapons of mass destruction all over the place.

414 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 1, 2014 10:19:23pm

re: #412 palomino

Exactly. BUT if reliable info proved she based her decisions on such nonsense, there’s no way I could vote for her in good conscience. A president needs to be logical and rational above all else.

That we can agree. Maybe her seance thing was just something she’s grown out of. Let hope so if she were to become the next president.

415 Lancelot Link  Apr 1, 2014 10:32:00pm

An excerpt from the L.A. Times obituary for Joyce Jillson, celebrity astrologer

Jillson earned worldwide publicity in May 1988 when she said that the Reagans regularly consulted astrologers and said she visited the White House after the assassination attempt on the president in 1981. She also said she made charts that determined George Bush was the best choice for Reagan’s running mate in 1980.

416 goddamnedfrank  Apr 1, 2014 11:36:25pm

re: #407 NJDhockeyfan

All I could find about First Ladies and seances was this:

I wonder if performing seances in the White House qualifies you for POTUS?

The White House weren’t the only ones who felt Woodwards characterization was bullshit.

But in an interview here at her Rockland County home today, Dr. Houston said Mrs. Clinton never made any seance-like effort to contact the spirits of Mrs. Roosevelt or Gandhi but simply engaged in an intellectual role-playing exercise to tackle a problem the First Lady was having with her book about children, “It Takes a Village.”

“We were using an imaginative exercise to force her ideas, to think about how Eleanor would have responded to a particular problem,” Dr. Houston said. “I have never been to a seance.”

417 Decatur Deb  Apr 2, 2014 3:14:10am

re: #412 palomino

Exactly. BUT if reliable info proved she based her decisions on such nonsense, there’s no way I could vote for her in good conscience. A president needs to be logical and rational above all else.

There is a bit of scholarship that examines the role of superstition in maintaining healthy real-life decisionmaking. Basically it adds a bit of needed randomization to systems that would otherwise be dangerously exploitive. If you look at destructive modern political/corporate practice, you can see that some of it is the result of “excess logic”.

books.google.com

researchonline.jcu.edu.au


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